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Watch commuters receive a surprise book reading from Joanna Lumley

The much-loved actor helped unsuspecting train passengers relax as she celebrated the launch of Fuze Tea

Thursday 21 February 2019 12:20 GMT
Joanna Lumley surprises stressed British commuters

After research showed that stressed-out Brits get just 55 minutes to themselves each day – the lowest amount of time in Europe – Joanna Lumley has helped calm the commute for dozens of train passengers by giving an impromptu book reading.

The popular actor surprised travellers on the Paddington to Swindon line after the study* by new low-calorie iced tea brand Fuze Tea found that “me time” begins most often at 5.05pm – at the start of the commute home.

Despite the rise of always-on digital technology and the pressure of worrying about work even at home, more than half of Brits polled said reading is the best way to unwind. Lumley's improvised appearance marked the launch of the brand's Calm The Commute campaign, which saw a series of unexpected moments to help Londoners switch off and relax on the journey home.

For those on the go, or simply wanting to grab some time to themselves, Fuze Tea contains a refreshing fusion of fruit, botanicals and tea extracts with key ingredients chamomile and hibiscus, which makes it perfect for enhancing that me-time moment. That should be good news to the ears – and taste buds – of time-poor Brits who work an average of 10 hours for every hour they have to relax.

In fact, those polled said they crave an extra 51 minutes of me time a day to properly recharge – nearly double what they currently get. Thankfully, even if we don't achieve that full amount, we can at least pause and find our moment of calm with a Fuze Tea, available in two thirst-quenching flavours: peach hibiscus with black tea extracts and mango chamomile with green tea extracts.

With Britain having voted Lumley the woman Brits would most like to read to them, the actor hopped aboard a busy commuter train to do just that. To the delight and astonishment of a carriage full of travellers, she read extracts from the book Eat Pray Love with her rendition even played out on the train's PA system so all aboard could enjoy her soothing tones.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform on a London bus

And it wasn't just rail passengers who got a calming treat. Members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brought smiles to the faces of the capital's commuters with an impromptu performance along the number 25 bus route as part of the brand’s Calm The Commute campaign. Work-weary travellers were treated to a rendition of calming classics and contemporary music as they journeyed on the route from Tottenham Court Road to Ilford.

Fuze Tea is available now. Find out more at fuze-tea.com/gb

Instagram.com/fuzeteagb/

Facebook.com/FuzeTeaGB/

Follow #TakeAMoment #FuzeTea

*Survey of 2,000 British adults by OnePoll, December 2017

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