Marlene back in the Bay for panto season

Only Fools and Horses star Sue Holderness is looking forward to returning to Torquay very soon to perform in pantomime at the Princess Theatre, Torquay.

She is set to appear in Beauty and the Beast playing Malevolent this festive season and can’t wait to spend time in the bay.

“I’m terribly excited, I love Torquay. I first played there in 2010 for Calendar Girls,” she said at the launch of the pantomime.

“We loved being there for Calendar Girls and had the happiest run there.

“I live in Windsor, which is underneath the Heathrow flight path and in the Thames Valley. You really notice fresh air when you come to the seaside. It’s also so stunningly beautiful in Torquay.”

She is hoping to have family come and watch the show.

“I have three grandchildren Max, Leo and Zoe who are divine,” she said proudly.

“It’s a way for them to come, but I will offer them a hotel. There is nothing like pantomime and hearing the joy and laughter from the little ones who are laughing, it’s a wonderful sound.”

Sue has had a busy year filming the successful Madam Blanche Mysteries.

“It’s going well, and we’ve filmed series three and it looks like there may be a series four,” she said.

“We film it in Gozo in Malta. Last year we were out there through the summer, which was too hot, so this time we’ve done some in Spring and this autumn, when it’s cooler.”

Sue has enjoyed an extensive career on stage and screen appearing in West End plays, touring productions and countless well-known TV shows over the years.

“I knew exactly what I wanted to do from a young age and went to drama school, the odds of getting into a drama school were steep against me, but I did and went from there,” she said.

“To me it has never felt like work, it’s been like play time from beginning to end.

“I’m terribly lucky, one of the luckiest actresses in the world. I’m not so famous I can’t walk down the street, but occasionally people will come up to me and say how much pleasure my shows have given them, and I have loved every second of my career.”

She is of course best known for her role as Marlene in John Sullivan’s Only Fools and Horses, which she played from 1984 until the final episode in 2003, and then co-starred with John Challis in four series of the spin-off The Green, Green Grass which ran from 2005 – 2009.

“I never get sick of being asked about it or talking about it,” she said proudly.

“The show changed my life. I had already done a lot of work before I got Only Fools and Horses but I know Marlene will be the character for which I’m remembered and I love that.

And why is Only Fools and Horses still popular after all these years?

“The joy of Only Fools and Horses is it was a show for the whole family and is still on the TV channel Gold every day,” she said.

“There are very funny comedies aimed at certain ages, but not many a 95-year-old and a five-year-old can watch together.

“We do comic conventions where we have the chance to meet up with the fans. It’s always nice meeting them.

“It’s surprising to hear that those in an unpleasant time in their lives often turn to watching Only Fools. It unites people and you know that when you watch you can just have a laugh and forget all your troubles.”

See Beauty and the Beast at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, from December 9-31.