FACT met fiction for the first time when Britain's top woman cop met the telly 'tec with whom she's often compared.

The country's first and only woman Chief Constable Pauline Clare dropped in on the Manchester set of ITV's 'Prime Suspect' to meet its star Helen Mirren.

The award-winning actress took time out from a busy filming schedule to talk to Mrs Clare about the fictious character she plays in the hard-hitting drama series.

When Mrs Clare took up her post as Chief Constable of Lancashire last year, her real-life role was inevitably compared with that of TV'sDetective Superintendent Jane Tennison. Mrs Clare, a fan of the series, said: "The researchers do an excellent job in accurately portraying real-life scenarios - but they manage to make it entertaining at the same time.

"I have enjoyed all the Prime Suspect series so far and was delighted to have the opportunity to visit the set during filming in Manchester.

"We soon discovered we had a tremendous amount in common. I shall of course watch the new series in the autumn with particular pleasure."

Helen Mirren commented: "I now realise, having met Mrs Clare, just how different acting the role of a police woman is from actually being one. I shall certainly be keeping a watchful eye on her career from now on."

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