FORMER Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay returns to the Liverpool Empire later this year for her pantomime debut.

The actress, television producer and director - whose many roles have included that of Rovers' landlady Shelley Unwin - plays Fairy Fazakerley in Dick Whittington, which will be staged at the city centre venue from December 12 until January 3.

Also in the cast are Wirral-based Radio Merseyside presenter Pete Price as Alderman Fitzwarren, Kurtis Stacey as Dick and Eric Potts as Sarah the Cook.

Wirral Globe:

The cast of Dick Whittington panto during its launch at the Albert Dock in Liverpool. (Left to right): Kurtis Stacey, Leanne Campbell, Sally Lindsay, Eric Potts, Pete Price, Warren Donnelly and Liam Mellor. Picture: Picture: Craig Manning 

Looking forward to the show during its launch this week, Manchester-born Sally told the Globe: "I love panto, but I've never done it before. I wanted to when I was in college, but other things came along and so I never got round to it.

"The cast are great and I’m looking forward to working with them. I just want to make people laugh and be happy at Christmas."

She continued: "The first panto I saw featured a good friend of mine, Les Dennis and Russ Abbott. I remember thinking it was the most magical thing I'd seen.

"For many young children it is their first experience of theatre, so it’s really important for me to nail it.

"The Empire was the second theatre I played in, so it is a very special place for me.

"My boys will be in the audience for the first show and it will be the first time they will have ever seen me on stage."

Sally went to Hull University, intent on becoming a radio journalist.

But her plans changed. She became involved in the drama group and decided to become an actress.

Her first 'break' came with a three-year tour of Girls' Night Out - which was staged at the Empire.

She played Shelley Unwin - a role specially created for her - in Coronation Street from 2001 until 2006.

Other TV roles included Michelle in BBC comedy The Royle Family and in Peter Kay's Channel Four comedy Phoenix Nights.

She also plays Mrs Agnew in Still Open All Hours, the BBC comedy sequel featuring Sir David Jason as Granville, who takes over the running of late uncle Arkwright’s shop. Filming of the second series has started.

On stage she played Marilyn Monroe in Ella, Meet Marilyn at the Edinburgh Festival and the lead role of Helen in the 50th Anniversary production of Sheelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

In 2008 she was the voice of Piella Bakewell in Oscar-nominated Wallace and Gromit television movie A Matter of Loaf and Death.

She also co-created the detective drama series Scott & Bailey for ITV1, along with fellow ex-Corrie star Suranne Jones.

She then led the cast in comedy drama – Mount Pleasant. The first episode of the new series was broadcast on Friday.

Looking back on her career, Sally said: "It's difficult to give highlights, because so many things have happened.

"I suppose the biggest ones where when we got Scott & Bailey commissioned and when Mount Pleasant came along.

"Coronation Street was amazing, because I was the youngest landlady at the Rovers.

“The first time I started work on Corrie, walking along the cobbles, I remember thinking 'am I actually doing this?' 

"I've had that feeling a lot." 

Tickets for Dick Whittington are from the box office on 0844 871 3017.