SUE Johnston has long been a favourite at the Octagon and is a committed supporter of Bolton’s well-known theatre.

So it’s good news that she’s joining the cast of TV’s award-winning Downton Abbey for its latest series. She leaves chain-smoking Barbara Royle from The Royle Family far behind and dresses dowdily to play a lady’s maid to Dame Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess of Grantham.

Our Sue may seem subservient in this new role but, as we well know, there’s a will of steel behind that demeanour. Perhaps cook Mrs Patmore has finally met her match!