Dame Joan Collins, 93, has disclosed how her husband Percy Gibson, 61, leapt to her defence after a man "bumped into her with his trolley in M&S". To the astonishment of the Dynasty icon's admirers, despite her global stardom, she regularly visits her local supermarket "disguised in an anorak and baseball cap" to complete her weekly grocery shop.

On a recent outing, however, she was left "fuming" and somewhat bruised following the unfortunate trolley collision, and found herself calming her husband after he furiously challenged the man responsible. Reflecting on the incident, Joan told the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine of Percy's reaction and her efforts to ease the tension: "Fire came out of his eyes! And I said, 'No, no, no, no, don't darling! It's fine, I'm not hurt.'

"I was, actually! Only slightly. You don't like to be bumped with a trolley!"

Dame Joan seized the opportunity to reinforce her view that British people lack the courtesy they once had, while praising the younger generation of her family as exceptions.

The Hollywood legend continued: "My grandchildren and my nephews and nieces are all very polite and well-mannered, but I've seen some young people who are not.

"I've seen some old people who are not too, like the man who bumped into me: he was in his late 60s. I think there's a culture: Great Britain used to be known for everybody being incredibly polite and well-mannered. I don't think we're as polite now.

"We're not known for our politeness as much as people in Spain and Italy, for example."

Fortunately, interviewer Stephen Smith observed that Dame Joan appeared "none the worse for her encounter with a shopping cart".

Dame Joan, who celebrated her 93rd birthday this month, looks remarkable for her age, yet she rejects fashionable diets and cosmetic procedures.

She credits her youthful looks to "healthy living", telling The Telegraph: "I don't eat junk, I get eight hours of sleep, I exercise. It's very simple."