Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh has avoided a driving ban despite being caught speeding for the fifth time. The 63-year-old actress, known for her role as Lady Agatha Danbury in the Netflix series, appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court and argued that losing her license would cause "exceptional hardship" because she needs to drive to visit her frail, 85-year-old mother.
Andoh pleaded guilty to exceeding the 20mph speed limit while driving her Volvo on February 13 along South Croxted Road in West Dulwich. She was fined £640, ordered to pay £130 in costs and a £256 victim surcharge. She also received three penalty points, bringing her total to 12.
The court heard that Andoh has four previous speeding convictions: March 23, 2023; November 21, 2024; and January 31 and May 1 of this year. Her fines and surcharges total £1,026.
During the hearing, Andoh became emotional when discussing her mother's health issues, including osteoporosis, incontinence, and kidney problems, and the recent death of her father. She explained that her mother lives alone in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, a location that is difficult to access via public transport. Andoh stated that the journey from the nearest train station takes 40 minutes, involving significant waiting times.
"My mum is an amazing woman. She was a schoolteacher, my games mistress, but she is physically frail and had cancer in the 1980's," Andoh told the magistrates. "She has osteoporosis, she's incontinent, her bladder doesn't work, she has blood clots and damaged kidneys."
Andoh also cited the need to care for other relatives, including her uncle with dementia in Cornwall and two aunts in Cardiff and Wimbledon, one of whom has a broken back and the other a broken ankle. She recounted a recent incident where her mother fell from a step ladder, sustaining a spinal injury, which required Andoh to fly her brother from Los Angeles to assist.
Bench Chairwoman Joanne Rutledge described the decision to allow Andoh to keep her license as "borderline" and warned that she cannot use the same hardship argument for the next three years. Rutledge added, "Maybe your mum needs to get herself some assistance, and you cannot be relied on going forward."
Andoh, who earns approximately £100,000 per year, also addressed a previous controversy where she described the Buckingham Palace balcony during King Charles III's coronation as "terribly white." She later clarified her remarks, calling the coronation "marvellous" and stating she did not intend to cause offense. Despite the earlier backlash, Andoh accepted an MBE from Prince William in December.
Andoh stated that her mother would find it extremely difficult to move to her home in southeast London, emphasizing her mother's desire to remain in her home of 40 years, surrounded by her elderly friends.
"If I was disqualified for a fortnight or a month what happens is mum falls over in that fortnight?" Andoh asked. "I suppose this year I feel particularly sensitive because of how dad died and I would hate for mum to be in hospital. I wouldn't like that."