HERE'S a novel fact …

Happy 21st birthday to a theatre production which is now a real family affair.

Twopence to cross the Mersey is the story of Hoylake-born writer Helen Forrester.

It is a tale of the austerity of the '30s depression and a once-wealthy family who move back to Merseyside for work. It's also about one girl's dream of being educated.

I first saw it as a musical in 1994 at the Empire.

Now writer Rob Fennah has brought it back as a touring stage play arriving at New Brighton Pavilion in April.

I read the book at school and years on, I wrote a review of it in a newspaper, praising the "inspirational novel." 

A week later I was delighted to receive a letter from Alberta, Canada from Helen Forrester.

Helen, who didn't suffer fools gladly, however told me off - literally for calling it "a novel" - stressing it was a biography. I kept the letter and pasted it into my dog-eared copy of the paperback which I still have.

Helen, who died in 2011, came over to see the show during it's first run, and now her son Robert is flying in to see the latest version at the Epstein Theatre.

Eithne Brown, who was in the original and is now in the non-musical version will meet Robert - just as she met his mum who she played 21 years ago.

PS, The Stage, showbiz bible, this week says of the play "popular novel leaps from the page…"

Oops!

**

FORMER minister Edwina Currie is no longer in frontline politics but she can still be politically outspoken.

Although some critics believe our NHS has gone to the dogs, Edwina has revealed that our canine friends could be a real asset to good health and wellbeing. (Cue music: Who let the dogs out?).

She revealed to one Sunday paper: "I think they should be prescribed on the NHS because you have to walk them every day.

"They're comforting. They love you unconditionally - and they don’t argue with you." 

Didn#t Mrs Thatcher have a similar view of her cabinet?

**

THERE'S only 50 days to go to the general election.

The budget today will certainly cause some serious debate, at last.

Then, after the shouting is over, it's back to the slings and arrows that MPs revel in.

For now one Labour supporting tabloid asks: "Why did David Cameron cross the road? To avoid the chicken."

This fowl deed takes place when a reporter dressed in a chicken suit follows the PM on the campaign trail - a photo opportunity aimed to embarrass him over his refusal to take part in proposed TV debates.

One man worth monitoring is comedian "pub landlord" Al Murray, standing against Ukip’s Nigel Farage in South Thanet.

The politically-correct brigade has grounded a pre-election fun stunt Al was planning, preventing him from parachuting into the area because of his weight.

"It's health and safety gone mad," says Mr Murray.

**

THEATRE producer Bill Kenwright is superstitious - not about The Scottish Play – about magpies.

He told the Inferno that he is not happy when he sees a solitary magpie. Willy Russell mentioned it in Blood Brothers about "one magpie for sorrow, two for joy."

He explains: "I often see one in a tree outside my office and I always try and find a mate."

Bill and partner Jenny Seagrove, however, are happy to walk to Hyde Park where magpies gather in numbers.

And when his beloved Everton play Newcastle United – aka the Magpies - he has no problem.

"There’s always eleven of them," he laughed.

**

AND finally ... Like most people, I hate road works.

What are they for? No one ever tells you.

Men in yellow jackets with migraine–inducing drills and temporary traffic lights.

It reminds me of an observation from Ken Dodd at a presentation event during Liverpool’s Big Dig for 08, when he spotted councillors in the audience.

"What are you doing with all this digging?" he asked.

"Have you lost something?"

Peter Grant