Amanda Redman has been patron of the Missing People charity for more than 25 years, but she first experienced what it means to disappear from home decades earlier, thankfully only briefly.
The New Tricks star reveals she once walked out on her parents as a teenager, leaving them in a state of panic for days, until common sense kicked in and she returned home.
“I caused my parents huge worry, but luckily I came to my senses within a couple of days and went home,” the 67-year-old actress recalls of that worrying moment from her childhood, in Brighton, East Sussex.
The personal experience lends an added depth to her role with Missing People, which the Mirror is raising funds for in our Christmas appeal.
Amanda first came into contact with the organisation when she appeared in the gritty BBC drama Beck, which was set in Kings Cross among prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers and runaways, before the area’s £3billion regeneration.
“I was first invited by Missing People to become a patron in 1996 because I was in Beck, playing a private detective looking for missing persons,” she says. “During my research for Beck, I spent a few days in the offices of Missing People and that really opened my eyes.”
The risks for vulnerable children are still sadly prevalent today. Each year, 75,000 go missing, many fleeing family conflict or abuse, which means this Christmas, there will be too many empty seats at dinner tables.
But this festive season is bringing much happier news for Amanda and her family, with the expected arrival of her first grandchild in January.
Having dropped hints she wanted to be a grandmother for years, her only child, Emily, 36, who she shares with ex-husband Robert Glenister, 64, has made her dream a reality. “As luck would have it, I expect to become a grandmother in early January,” she says.
Before that big day, she will be hosting the family for the festivities. “The family always comes to us,” says Amanda. “We also throw a big Christmas Eve party for our friends and it will be lovely to catch up with all of them.”
The star, who married Damian Schnabel, 52, in 2010, has previously spoken about her sadness at not having a bigger family.
Amanda endured years of heartbreak as she tried for more children, including nine miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies.
“I’ve loved being a mum and I love babies. I’d have had four children if I could, so there is sadness there,” she has admitted in the past. “All my friends are grannies now, so I’d love a little bubba to look after.”
And she intends to be a committed granny as she prepares for her new role. “I will always be on hand to help my daughter for whatever reason,” she says. Amanda is probably best known for the hit BBC police drama, New Tricks, about unsolved cases. She starred as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman from 2003 to 2013.
The friendships she made with co-stars Dennis Waterman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong helped ensure the appeal of the drama.
How to donate to Missing People
Donate online: Visit this link or head to www.missingpeople.org.uk/mirror - read why we're supporting this campaign here.
Text: To donate £5 Text HOPE5 to 70660 - To donate £10 Text HOPE10 to 70660 - To donate £15 Text HOPE15 to 70660
Terms & Conditions: *Text costs £5/£10 or £15 plus network charge. Missing People receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Charity No England and Wales: 1020419, Scotland: SC047419. Missing People will send regular updates via text and may contact you at any time to ask for your contact preference.
Post: Please include your name and address and make cheques payable to ‘Missing People’ via free post:
Freepost Plus RRKY–XSEC–XAEC. - Missing People - Roebuck House - 284 Upper Richmond Road West - London - SW14 7JE
How your donation will help: £5 could help a missing child reach support - 11 could answer an urgent Helpline call from someone who is missing - £33 could give three families advice and help from a Support Worker - £110 could pay for two vital Counselling sessions to help a family to cope with the toughest of all losses
How to contact Missing People - free and confidential: Call: 116 000. Text: 116 000. Email: 116000@missingpeople.org.uk
How to contact Samaritans for mental health support: Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Even now, she keeps in touch with her old TV mates and the late Dennis’ family in Spain. “They all mean a lot to me,” she says. After leaving New Tricks, Amanda also starred as a grandmother in 2020 BBC comedy Bumps. She played a 62-year-old mum who ends up having a child herself via IVF for her daughter.
Although a new series was not commissioned, she appeared in The Good Karma Hospital from 2017 until 2022, which was filmed in Sri Lanka.
“I was extremely surprised that the BBC didn’t commission a new series of Bumps, as we were all very proud of it, and I received fabulous feedback from viewers,” she says. And Amanda fears for the dearth of roles for older women, despite the growing number of streaming services.
“I do feel I have suffered from the attitude of ageism. The powers that be aren’t interested in middle-aged women,” she says.
While missing from our TV screens at the moment, the stage is benefitting from Amanda’s wealth of experience.
“I have directed a show every year for the past 20-odd years. I really enjoy directing,” she adds. “I would just like to be remembered as a good actor.”
Awarded an MBE for her services to drama and charity, in 2012, she’s already reached that goal, and now a new role of grandmother awaits.