The actress who stars in Bolton Octagon's next production, A Skull in Connemara, has put on 10 pounds for her role as Maryjohnny Rafferty.

She said: "The part requires me to put on the weight. I have managed to pile on 10 pounds . . . but would have ideally liked it to have been more.

"It has been great, eating fish and chips and chocolate.

"The only problem is going to be getting rid of it when the play is finished."

She joked: "I think I will take myself off to a health farm immediately after the run ends."