Dame Joan Collins says she'd get bags of 'hate-mail' if Dynasty was aired today despite character Alexis being 'ahead of her time'

She created one of the best-known television characters of all time in the glamorous, yet ruthless, Alexis Colby in 1980s soap opera Dynasty.But Dame Joan Collins thinks that she would receive bags of 'hate mail' if the beloved soap opera were to air again today.While 1980s audiences took to the character, who she believes was 'ahead of her time', she doesn't think the response would be so positive in 2026.In her first-ever podcast appearance in the launch episode of Shooting Star Children's Hospices official podcast Shooting Star Unwrapped, Dame Joan, 93, said she had always 'liked' the divisive character.'I think she was very ahead of her time — a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and didn't care who she hurt to get it,' she said.'Not quite a perfect person, but it worked for the character, and I liked her very much, even though a lot of people hated her. Dame Joan Collins, 93, says she'd get bags of 'hate-mail' if Dynasty was aired today despite character Alexis being 'ahead of her time''Thank God we're not showing that show today — I'd get so much hate mail.'Dame Joan, who has been married five times, met her current husband, film producer Percy Gibson, 61, in 2000 while appearing in a touring production of the play Love Letters in the US, and the couple married two years later in 2002.On their marriage she said that although they have their 'little spats' they ultimately like and love each other.'We met at the beginning of this century — a quarter of a century ago — when we were working together on a show in San Francisco,' she said.'I liked him immediately — he was so hardworking, clever and knowledgeable about the theatre, and very kind, and good-looking too.'We married less than two years later, and we've been together most of this century, which is extraordinary in showbusiness, because marriages don't tend to last here — but ours is pretty solid, touch wood.'We have our little spats and arguments, but basically we like each other, and we love each other.'It's so important to like your partner — so many people go into relationships on the crest of lust, and when that disintegrates, there's nothing left.' While 1980s audiences took to the character, who she believes was 'ahead of her time', she doesn't think the response would be so positive in 2026She said that she and Percy have a 'core together' and that he is 'so wonderful with my children and my grandchildren' and 'spends so much time with them'.She added: 'He's endlessly patient, and just a super, kind, wonderful human being.'As well as helping to launch the new podcast, by giving her first ever podcast interview to the charity, Dame Joan has donated a Valentino clutch given to her by Mr Valentino himself.She said: 'It's called a minaudière, a little handbag that was given to me, actually, by Mr Valentino himself. It's in the shape of a shell, it goes into your hand, and it's absolutely gorgeous.'Shooting Star Unwrapped is available on all major podcast platforms, with prizes available to bid on via the Virtual Charity Shop.Other celebrities taking part in the podcast, which comes out every two weeks, include Brenda Blethyn OBE, Tony Hadley MBE, Philip Glenister MBE and Michael Ball – all of whom have also donated items to be auctioned off.