Stunning At 70: The Stars Inspiring A Record Number Of Brits To Defer Old Age

More Britons than ever before are taking up new pursuits in retirement.
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Helen Mirren is the nation's most inspirational 70-year-old, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Voluntary Service.

The Oscar winner topped the poll, with veteran journalist Kate Adie not far behind, but there are plenty of other stars flourishing at the same age, who are inspiring folk to pursue new hobbies and interests rather than putting their feet up, and thinking their best days are behind them. 

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Jane Asher, Bryan Ferry and Helen Mirren all proving 70 is the new going out
PA

According to the research, released to launch GrandFest 2016, more people than ever before are putting off 'old age' in favour of leaving the house, travelling to new countries, getting fit, volunteering and learning a new skill.

And over 40% of people of retirement age have now decided, it seems, that old age is still at least a couple of decades away.

Turning 70 this year is actress Alison Steadman, who says: 

"When I was 17 I remember thinking 35 was very old! How we change, grow and learn. Life is for living and to be 70 now seems exciting to me. I've grown in confidence over the years and learned that every day is precious. Every day brings something new and challenging. Go for it!”

And, if you need more proof that age is just a number, check out this huge list of celebrities, all turning 70 this year and negotiating their eighth decade with wit, wisdom and will to power... 

Celebs Proving 70's The New Going Out
Cher(01 of46)
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Cher arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating "China: Through the Looking Glass" in New York. From drought-shaming to eco-boasting, willing or not, celebrities play a role in raising awareness about the debilitating drought in Calif. Cher, a Malibu resident, has let her grass go brown and has talked about the water shortage on Twitter. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) (credit:PA)
Bryan Ferry(02 of46)
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Bryan Ferry performs at the 2014 Coachella Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 11, 2014, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Liza Minelli(03 of46)
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Liza Minelli attending the opening of 'The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg' at the Gielgud Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue, London. (credit:PA)
Alison Steadman(04 of46)
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Alison Steadman stands in front of the London Eye which has been illuminated red to highlight the attainable goal of a generation of babies born HIV free by 2015 on World Aids Day. (credit:PA)
Noddy Holder(05 of46)
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Noddy Holder during the BRIT Awards 2010, at Earls Court, London. (credit:PA)
Michael Buerk(06 of46)
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Michael Buerk arriving at the TV recording of the TV Moments show, BBC Television Centre, London. Doug Peters/allactiondigital.com (credit:PA)
Celebrity chef Brian Turner(07 of46)
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Celebrity chef Brian Turner at St. Pancras International Station, London, welcoming commuters from France with roast beef as part of St George's Day celebrations. (credit:PA)
John Stapleton(08 of46)
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TV presenter John Stapleton in the stands (credit:PA)
Kate Adie(09 of46)
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Kate Adie arriving at the Prince's Trust and L'Oreal Paris Celebrate Success Awards, at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
Hayley Mills(10 of46)
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Actress Hayley Mills arrives for a reception for the British Film Industry held by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. (credit:PA)
Music promoter Harvey Goldsmith(11 of46)
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Queen Elizabeth II talks with music promoter Harvey Goldsmith (left) after presenting him with a Diamond Award for his contribution to British culture during a Diamond Jubilee celebration of the arts at the Royal Academy of Arts in central London. (credit:PA)
Jane Asher(12 of46)
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Jane Asher in the press room at the Classic Brit Awards 2013, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 2, 2013. See PA story SHOWBIZ Classic. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Dr Chris Steele(13 of46)
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Dr Chris Steele arriving at the 2014 TV Choice Awards, The Park Lane Hilton, London. (credit:PA)
Tommy Lee Jones(14 of46)
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Tommy Lee Jones poses during a photo call for "The Homesman," at the 67th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France. Jones is the director, co-producer, co-writer and actor for the American western. The movie opens in U.S. theatres this Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File) (credit:PA)
Barry Gibb(15 of46)
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Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees performs solo in concert during his Mythology Tour 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Eric Clapton(16 of46)
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Eric Clapton performs at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in New Orleans. (Photo by John Davisson/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Timothy Dalton(17 of46)
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Timothy Dalton participates in the "Penny Dreadful" panel at the CBS/Showtime 2015 Winter TCA on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
John Lithgow(18 of46)
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John Lithgow attends the 'Interstellar' premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York on November 3, 2014. (credit:PA)
Tony Robinson(19 of46)
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Tony Robinson attending the charity premiere of 'Still Alice, at the Curzon Mayfair cinema, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 5, 2015. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Maureen Lipman(20 of46)
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Maureen Lipman arrives at Westminster Abbey in London for the memorial service of Lord Richard Attenborough, who died last year. (credit:PA)
Alun Armstrong(21 of46)
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TV star Alun Armstrong, 68, who is selling his alter-ego Brian Lane's bike from TV show New Tricks for charity, in Wandsworth, London. (credit:PA)
Bianca Jagger(22 of46)
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Nicaraguan advocate and actress Bianca Jagger poses during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Monte Carlo Television Festival, Saturday, June 13, 2015, in Monaco. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau) (credit:PA)
Lesley Joseph(23 of46)
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Actor Lesley Joseph enjoys some cake at the Ovarian Cancer Awareness, 'Make Time For Tea event at the House of Commons in London, attended by celebrities and MPs. (credit:PA)
Brian Cox(24 of46)
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Brian Cox attends the 'Pixels' New York Premiere at Regal E-Walk in New York on July 18, 2015. (credit:PA)
Penelope Wilton(25 of46)
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Penelope Wilton arrives at The Ivy in West Street, London, as the cast of Downton Abbey attend a wrap party to celebrate the sixth and final season of the programme. (credit:PA)
Dolly Parton(26 of46)
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Dolly Parton performs in concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Friday, July 31, 2015 in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Debbie Harry(27 of46)
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Debbie Harry arrives for the amfAR charity dinner during the fashion week in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Giuseppe Aresu) (credit:PA)
Henry Winkler(28 of46)
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Henry Winkler attending The Intern premiere at Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, NY, USA, on September 21, 2015. (credit:PA)
Goldie Hawn(29 of46)
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Goldie Hawn attends the 25th Annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards held at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY, USA, on November 9, 2015. (credit:PA)
Diane Keaton(30 of46)
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Diane Keaton arrives at the 13th Annual Gala in the Garden at the Hammer Museum on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
David Lynch(31 of46)
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David Lynch speaks at the David Lynch Foundation Music Celebration at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, in Los Angeles. Filmmaker Lynch is collaborating with his friend the journalist and critic Kristine McKenna on the memoir-biography ÂLife & Work, Grand Central Publishing announced Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. The book will combine LynchÂs reflections with material from McKenna based on dozens of interviews LynchÂs friends, family and colleagues. Grand Central, a division of Hachette Book Group, plans a 2017 release. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) (credit:PA)
Brenda Blethyn(32 of46)
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Actress Brenda Blethyn filming the latest series of the ITV drama Vera on Whitley Bay beach in North Tyneside. (credit:PA)
John Motson(33 of46)
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Commentator John Motson before the game (credit:PA)
David Suchet(34 of46)
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David Suchet who portrayed Agatha Christie's detective character Hercule Poirot in television, whose name has been revealed in a top ten survey of mispronounced literary characters' names conducted by digital audiobook retailer Audible. (credit:PA)
Martyn Lewis(35 of46)
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Martyn Lewis who has received a Knighthood in the 2016 New Year's Honours List. (credit:PA)
Danny Glover(36 of46)
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Danny Glover, a cast member in "Mr. Pig," arrives at the premiere of the film at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Bette Midler(37 of46)
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Bette Midler at the Movies For Grownups Awards in Los Angeles, CA, USA, February 8, 2016. (credit:PA)
Ian Lavender(38 of46)
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Ian Lavender attending the World premiere of Dad's Army at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday 26th January, 2016. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire. (credit:PA)
Sir Van Morrison(39 of46)
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Sir Van Morrison who will be dubbed a knight by the Prince of Wales following a musical career spanning more than 50 years. (credit:PA)
Neil Young(40 of46)
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Singer Neil Young poses for a portrait at the opening reception for his art show "Special Deluxe" at the Robert Berman Gallery in Santa Monica, Calif. Fans will get a chance to view newly restored and edited versions of films, "Rust Never Sleeps" and "Human Highway," and hear from Young himself in a live interview, during a one-night special screening in theaters nationwide on Monday. Billed as "An Evening with Neil Young," it will be the first time either film has received a widespread public screening in decades. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP, File) (credit:PA)
Anthony Daniels(41 of46)
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Anthony Daniels accepts the Blockbuster of the Year award for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the London Evening Standard British Film Awards at the Television Centre, White City, London. (credit:PA)
Charlotte Rampling(42 of46)
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Charlotte Rampling arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Al Powers/Invision/AP) (credit:PA)
Carly Simon(43 of46)
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Carly Simon attends the 2016 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Irving Azoff at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, USA on February 14, 2016. (credit:PA)
Bill Clinton(44 of46)
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks on behalf of his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at a "Get Out The Vote Rally" in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (credit:PA)
Helen Mirren(45 of46)
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Helen Mirren at the premiere of Eye In The Sky at AMC Loews Lincoln Square in New York City, NY, USA, on March 9, 2016. (credit:PA)
Steve Martin(46 of46)
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Actor and comedian Steve Martin, who is guest curator of an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts devoted to Canadian modernist Lawren Harris, during a gathering at the museum in Boston, Friday, March 11, 2016. "The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris" runs through June 12. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (credit:PA)

 

Click here for more information about the GrandFest 2016, taking place in London on 5 June - a one-day festival created for older generations to share craft skills such as knitting, crochet, wood turning and bread making through a series of master classes. Taking over museums, shops, cafes and bars in and around East London each masterclass will be led by a talented Original GrandMaker, aged 70 or over. Click here for more information.