July 2009 will see veteran actress June Brown take over from Sian Phillips to play the role of Jessie in Calendar Girls, which is currently playing at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End.

Brown, who will be taking a break from appearing in the BBC soap EastEnders, will play Miss January. Her role will see her reunited with former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, who played the legendary landlady of the Queen Vic., Angie Watts.

June, 82, must be one of the hardest working actresses of her generation. Not only does she work on EastEnders, which has a very busy schedule, but she will now be playing eight shows a week during her break from the BBC series to appear in Calendar Girls. Now that's what I call an inspirational actress!

I have been delighted to hear how well the national tour and current West End run of Calendar Girls has been doing. Indeed, such as been the demand for tickets that extra matinees have been added!

The current cast of the play includes: Lynda Bellingham (who I had the pleasure of interviewing in 2007) and Brigit Forsyth (best-known for playing Thelma in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?). Both actresses, incidentally, have made films at the Shenley Road-based Elstree Studios during their careers.

The stage version of Calendar Girl is based on the 2003 film of the same name. It tells the story of members of the Rylstone & District Women's Institute who stripped for a calendar photo shoot in order to raise money for charity.

July's cast changes will also see Gemma Atkinson (Hollyoaks), Sara Crowe (Carry On Columbus), Jill Halfpenny (EastEnders), Jerry Hall (actress, model and former wife of Mick Jagger) and Jack Ryder (EastEnders) take on roles in this hit stage play.

One of the best aspects for me about this play is that it features so many good roles for women. It is true that there are currently very few good roles for women out there.

I wish Calendar Girls continued success!

Calendar Girls, Noel Coward Theatre, London's West End (see web link).