When I began my teaching career in Leeds, I was very impressed with a colleague who combined a senior position in the school with working as a television ‘extra’ on shows such as ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. I’d see her in person in the staffroom during the day and then as ‘lady at the bus stop’ or something similar on my TV screen in the evening.

Thirty years later, when I’d hung up my chalk – actually it was a board marker by that time – I decided to follow in her footsteps. Nothing could have been easier. I joined a casting agency and found myself a couple of weeks later blending into the background in The Royal. Several other popular shows, including Heartbeat, Emmerdale and A Touch of Frost followed and even the odd advertisement and film. (One of the latter was later dubbed ‘an erotic drama’, although the scenes in which I took part were neither erotic nor particularly dramatic!) Over the next few years, I made hundreds of appearances in many different guises. My days in the studios or out on location were always interesting and I met some wonderful people. The downsides were the crack of dawn starts and necessity to travel back and forth in all weathers.

That’s why, when the studios re-opened after the long break forced by the Covid19 epidemic, I decided to call it a day. Onwards and upwards, though! Writing has always been a passion and it was time to write my memoirs. My ‘Extra’ Life is now available from Amazon and will give plenty of food for thought to anyone planning to follow in my footsteps.