Globe columnist Peter Grant meets a Liver Bird from Wirral.

ACTRESS Lucinda Lawrence is looking forward to seeing family and friends when she appears in a brand new stage version of a much-loved '70s series.

Lucinda, who was born at Arrowe Park, was a pupil at Neston High and joined Wirral Theatre School. She never looked back.

She is the narrator of BBC1's Garden Rescue and a much-in-demand voice-over artist.

For the past 13 years Lucinda has been London-based.

Now she is thrilled to be returning to Merseyside where she will play the role of Young Beryl in The Liver Birds Flying Home, inspired by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor's '70s sit-com.

It will be quite a home-coming as Lucinda's mum and nan will be there on opening night.

For the accent is on playing a Liverpudlian in the adaptation of the popular TV series about two flatmates who talk about life, love and putting the world to rights.

Lucinda says there are plenty of laughs and a lot of pathos in this production which is set in the present day.

It uses flash-backs to take the audience to a Liverpool of 40 years ago.

Lucinda said: "Carla and Myra had a gift for very real dialogue from their characters.

"I am sure it will appeal to audiences who remember the series fondly all over again when they see our show."

And Lucinda gets to sing a few numbers from the 23 written by Barb Jungr and Level 42's Mike Lindup.

The idea for the musical came from Barb and George Seaton while walking through Liverpool city centre now, alongside BBC Radio Merseyside's Linda McDermott.

The stage book was born.

Lucinda laughs: "There is one song called If Men Were Biscuits. I won't give anything more away."

She says the five-strong cast are so excited about this home-grown world premiere.

It's certainly shaping up be a great year for the actress.

"I have this show and a tour of Hairspray and I am getting married in September.

"It is ironic that in the play Beryl is desperate for her boyfriend to propose and get married and have kids.

"When I break for rehearsals I am on the phone trying to sort out my own wedding dress for real."

Lucinda says she does miss her native Wirral.

"Oh, the clean air ... and the ice cream at Parkgate on Sundays.

"I'll be back for five weeks with this run so I'll have plenty of time for that."

She hopes Liver Birds Flying Home, which is being adapted with the blessing from Carla's family and Myra's estate, will really take off and go on to even bigger things.

"Do come along," she says, "and tell me if I've got the accent right."

And with that she treated me to her spot-on interpretation of Beryl.

I tell her she's 'cracked it' and Lucinda laughs out loud.

Welcome back, girl!

The Liver Birds Flying Home will be staged at the Royal Court in Liverpool from next Friday (April 13) to May 12.

Tickets from the box office on 0151 709 4321