From sweet chalet maid to hard-hearted orphanage matron, Su Pollard tells Laura Davis about life after Hi de Hi

“It was almost like karaoke but with proper live piano.”

Although Pollard says she prefers the intimacy of the theatre over TV, it was the small screen that provided her big break.

In 1989, Dad’s Army writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft pitched a new comedy show to the BBC, set in the imaginary British holiday camp Maplins.

The nation quickly took hapless Peggy to their hearts and Pollard found herself thrust into the limelight.

“We couldn’t wait to get the scripts and when we did the read through we laughed and laughed,” she says.

“During the 10 years we did on Hi de Hi, we never stopped laughing.”

When the show came to an end in 1988, the same writing team and cast moved on to You Rang M’Lord?, with Pollard in the equally naive but well-meaning role of Ivy Teasdale.

In November, they will be meeting for a reunion to mark 30 years since Hi de Hi was first broadcast.

Pollard keeps in touch with many members of the cast including Ruth Madoc, who has also played Miss Hannigan on stage, and Paul Shane (Hi de Hi’s Ted Bovis).

“We have a strong bond, everybody got on well and we’ve seen everybody’s children grow up,” she says.

“It was a special time really, it was marvellous and you have to remember to appreciate those moments.

“I always say to everybody, especially if they’re new to the business, to make sure they enjoy every single day, and that’s my aim, too.”

ANNIE is at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, from September 7-12.

laura.davis