“I think it is shocking that 15- and 16-year-olds leave school unable to add up and with the reading ability of a four-year-old.”

English actress, author and columnist

Dame Joan Collins is an English actress, author and columnist. Born in 1933, she has worked across film, television and print, and is also known for her long public career and charitable work. She has received several honours, including a Golden Globe Award, a People’s Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 1983, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her philanthropy, especially support for children’s causes, has been widely recognised, and in 2015 she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for charitable services.