“I knew the character so well and I used to look forward to getting the scripts to see what she was going to do next and what she might be expected to wear.

“I did an interview for (BBC1 show) Countryfile and I drove to Holmfirth but of course none of us were there and it hit me on the way home that’s probably the last time I’d go there.”

There’s nothing like a panto for cheering up a glum face however, and Fergusson is excited about taking on the role of Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother again, despite having played “every fairy that’s going”.

“I’ve done Fairy Bowbells in Dick Whittington, the fairy in Mother Goose and Jack and the Beanstalk,” she says.

“But Cinderella gives you a good opportunity because not only are you able to be serious but you also get to play the old lady in the wood and go in disguise, do a bit of acting.

“Also in my case the silly time comes when she says she has a day off and comes on with a bicycle as my Last of the Summer Wine character in a silver miniskirt.”

Perhaps Fergusson will be waving her magic wand over the TV screenplay, Big Girl’ s Blouse, she has written about the life of Bolton-born music hall star Hylda Baker that she is hoping will soon get the go ahead from producers.

Birkenhead-born TV presenter and actor Paul O’Grady is keen on playing a part in the show after seeing her perform She Knows Y’ Know, her one woman show about the colourful comedian, when it toured to Liverpool’s Neptune Theatre before its closure in 2005.

“It involves someone else’s story as well,” she reveals, “who is this young lad who was 23 when he first worked with her.

“He made great friends with her but in the end she treated him very badly and they had a terrible row.

“It’s not just Hylda Baker being outrageous and creating havoc running round TV studios, which is how it starts.

“It’s all written and ready. Now I just have to hope it goes ahead.”

CINDERELLA is at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, from December 11 to January 2.