Ex-Corrie star Sally Lindsay talks working with Sir David Jason
The actress says the 'legend' is a blast on set of Still Open All Hours
There’s nothing like gathering the entire family round for a Christmas TV special, and for Sally Lindsay, it’s nice to be able to sit down and show her seven-year-old twin sons, Victor and Louie, something she’s been in for a change.
“Still Open All Hours is wonderful to watch with your children,” says ex-Corrie star Sally, who plays Kath. “You can watch Strictly with your kids, but my boys get a little bit bored – with this they don’t.
"They’re obsessed with [Tim Healy’s character] Gastric and every time he comes on they cry laughing.”
The seasonal special – in which, Sally’s boys will be pleased to hear, Gastric gets dressed up as a Christmas fairy – kicks off series four of the beloved sitcom, once again starring Sir David Jason as shopkeeper Granville. And Sally is still getting her head around working with such a TV great.
“He’s a right laugh,” she smiles. “We have a bitch about programmes we’ve seen: ‘Oh I can’t believe that’s on the telly…’ Once you get over the fact that he’s a complete legend, he’s just a really good actor in an ensemble.
And he’s very into making it work as opposed to coming in wearing sunglasses with a poodle.”
Having starred as Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street for five years, you’d think people wouldn’t have trouble recognising Sally, but you’d be surprised.
“I get mistaken for [EastEnders actress] Jo Joyner, but I’m nothing like her at all!” she laughs.
“And Siobhan Finneran. Somebody stopped me and said: ‘You were brilliant in Happy Valley,’ and I said: ‘Thank you.’ All that work she did and I got the credit! I wonder why you’d want a picture of someone you don’t know the name of.
"What are they going to do with that – face recognition? How do they find out who you are? It’s mad, isn’t it?”
Still Open All Hours, Thursday 28 December, 7.30pm, BBC One
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