IT'S 1966. An aspiring actress is on her hands and knees, cleaning the stage of Britain's oldest repertory company and dreaming about the stars.
Little did she know her career would involve worlds, albeit fictional, beyond the furthest star you can imagine.
Before a decade passed, Elisabeth Sladen, the lady with the bucket, had grafted herself forever to the hearts of Doctor Who fans as gutsy investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith; a lady who just can't help crossing the path of the world's favourite Time Lord.
"I have scrubbed every inch of the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse," the former Aigburth Vale Grammar student, 61, remembers with affection when the Echo spoke to her at her London home. "I certainly earned every penny when I worked there. They had me pushing a cart full of clothes from wardrobe across Williamson Square once while they were cleaning the building. It used to have holes in the roof and bird droppings everywhere!"
It is, however, another of the city's theatres which is bringing this Mossley Hill girl home.
On Saturday night, Elisabeth will appear before a sell-out crowd at the Philharmonic Hall to co-present, with actor and husband Brian Miller, Music From Outer Space, a programme of intergalactically inclined compositions performed by the RLPO.
"It's to encourage young people, especially teenagers, to get more interested in music," Elisabeth explains.
"There is a lot of John Williams in there and there's music from Doctor Who and Sarah Jane (shorthand for spin-off show The Sarah Jane Adventures) as well.
"It's great to be back in a live environment after all those months in front of the TV cameras. You get that instant response. I like to chop and change between different things but at the moment I'm doing blocks of either one or the other. I was in panto at Christmas (Mrs Darling in a Windsor production of Peter Pan) and that was three Saturdays, two Sundays and all the other performances. I'm surprised I'm still standing!"
But this weekend's engagement is sure to give Elisabeth, who began her education at Mosspits Primary School, the adrenaline required for a night of live theatre.
"I love coming back to Liverpool, I’m passionate about this city," she says. "I always get a bit misty eyed when the train pulls in to Lime Street. It reminds me of all the places I used to visit when I was younger, St George's Hall, the Walker Art Gallery, and the Philharmonic as well. We went there for speech night when I was at school. I saw the Beatles at the Cavern as well, but to be honest, I was always more of an Elvis fan.
"Closing the docks had a rough impact on Liverpool, especially when you think about what a world leader the city used to be. I really hope all this new investment makes a difference. The people deserve it.
"I was here when Richard Branson was launching the Pendolino trains and it wasn't that long after they'd announced the city had been made Capital of Culture. I remember telling someone from the council who was there that if there was anything I could do to help promote 2008, I'd be happy to help."
