Elizabeth Hurley says lockdown was like living with The Waltons at her £6m Herefordshire mansion  

Elizabeth Hurley has compared her lockdown experience to an episode of The Waltons after she spent the period with family at her £6million mansion.

The actress, 54, spent 16 weeks holed up at the Herefordshire estate in a group of nine, including her elder sister Kate, son Damian, 18, mother Angela, 80, and vulnerable friends. 

Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine, Liz told stand-in host Christine Lampard, ‘It was like The Waltons! We had nine of us, but I was the only one who left in 16 weeks to do a brief raid on the shops’. 

Family values: Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine, Elizabeth Hurley has compared her lockdown experience to an episode of The Waltons after she spent the period with family

Much-loved family drama The Waltons ran from 1971 to 1981 (with three subsequent movie spin-offs) and revolved around the tight-knit clan’s lives on a Virginia mountain during the Depression and the Second World War. 

The show was such an example for American family life at the time, that President George Bush once even said in a speech in 1992 that he wished to make families in the United States ‘more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons’.

Elizabeth revealed that her household took things back to basics for lockdown, much like The Waltons, explaining: ‘We all stayed safe and then we had to just get on, find a way to make it work.

Classic: Much-loved family drama The Waltons ran from 1971 to 1981 and revolved around the tight-knit clan's lives on a Virginia mountain during the Depression and the Second World War

Classic: Much-loved family drama The Waltons ran from 1971 to 1981 and revolved around the tight-knit clan’s lives on a Virginia mountain during the Depression and the Second World War

Fortunate: Despite spending four months at home, the group had plenty of space, as they locked down at Liz's 13 bedroom £6 million Herefordshire mansion

Fortunate: Despite spending four months at home, the group had plenty of space, as they locked down at Liz’s 13 bedroom £6 million Herefordshire mansion

‘There was manual labour, not allowed TV until 6PM. We were all outside – we had beautiful weather in the UK – sweeping up, clipping, attacking things with a chainsaw, making the outside beautiful, growing veg… 

‘We all got healthier. We ate quite a lot but there was the manual labour!’ 

Liz added: ‘We were very nervous about health, there were elderly women and a friend with low immunity who had to be kept safe. We were just nervous and scared whole time’.  

Close bond: The actress, 54, spent 16 weeks holed up at the Herefordshire estate in a group of nine, including her elder sister Kate, son Damian, 18, and her mother Angela, 80 (pictured)

Close bond: The actress, 54, spent 16 weeks holed up at the Herefordshire estate in a group of nine, including her elder sister Kate, son Damian, 18, and her mother Angela, 80 (pictured)

Family time: Liz went on to sing her son Damian's praises for his behaviour (pictured with his grandmother in lockdown)

Family time: Liz went on to sing her son Damian’s praises for his behaviour (pictured with his grandmother in lockdown) 

Liz, who appeared on the show via video link from Latvia, where she is currently filming a new project – went on to sing her son Damian’s praises for his behaviour. 

She said: ‘He was great during lockdown, he had his 18th birthday then… everyone in his school year didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone or do their exams. 

‘I’m really proud of him during lockdown, and yes he did help quite a bit!’ 

Basic: Elizabeth revealed that her household took things back to basics for lockdown, explaining: 'We all stayed safe and then we had to just get on, find a way to make it work'

She continued: 'There was manual labour, not allowed TV until 6PM. We were all outside - we had beautiful weather in the UK - sweeping up, clipping, attacking things with a chainsaw'

Basic: Elizabeth revealed that her household took things back to basics for lockdown, explaining: ‘We all stayed safe and then we had to just get on, find a way to make it work’

Despite spending four months at home, the group had plenty of space, as they locked down at Liz’s 13 bed-mansion that she bought with her ex Shane Warne in 2012.

The sprawling Georgian estate, which is now Elizabeth’s main home, also boasts five bathrooms and its own lake. 

During lockdown, Liz said she felt ‘incredibly lucky’ to be in her country home alongside her family during the time of social distancing. 

Liz added: 'We were very nervous about health, there were elderly women and a friend with low immunity who had to be kept safe. We were just nervous and scared whole time'

Liz added: ‘We were very nervous about health, there were elderly women and a friend with low immunity who had to be kept safe. We were just nervous and scared whole time’

She penned in an Instagram post: ‘In these scary times I feel incredibly lucky to live in the countryside and have lots of outside space.

‘As well as my son, I have seven other people living with me including my 79 year old mother and her sister- also in her late 70’s- and one of my best friends who is in the highest risk group with severe respiratory problems.

‘Keeping everyone as safe as possible (and fed) is a full time job.

‘We all are full of the highest admiration for our wonderful NHS staff and are doing everything we can to not add to their burden.’

Delightful duo: Liz appeared on the show via video link from Latvia - where she is currently filming a new project - and spoke with Christine Lampard who is filling in for Lorraine Kelly

Delightful duo: Liz appeared on the show via video link from Latvia – where she is currently filming a new project – and spoke with Christine Lampard who is filling in for Lorraine Kelly