SU Pollard can lay up a table for 100 people.

This and a multitude of other snippets tumbled from the mouth of the irrepressible actress who will forever be remembered as the daft cleaning maid from Hi-de-Hi who yearned to become a Yellow Coat.

Su is coming to Bournemouth Pavilion this Christmas to star as the Wicked Queen alongside CBeebies presenter Chris Jarvis - who is also the director - in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Bubbling with enthusiasm for this her 30th panto, Su was at the BIC this week for the launch of what promises to be a top class production which will include local children from the Stage Door School of Dance and Drama.

Su is proud of her ten-year stint in BBC's Hi-de-Hi.

"I owe everything I've learned from the writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry," she said, adding that in casting the sitcom they had been determined to give unknowns a chance.

This series was followed by You Rang me Lord.

"We had lots of tutoring and that was how I learned to lay a table. We had authentic props and you wouldn't believe how heavy everything was," she said.

Oh Dr Beeching was her third hit sitcom.

"They were fun parts, and I suppose today they would be considered as OTT. It was highly comedic and almost farce," she said, adding that her favourite TV programme is Midsomer Murders.

Su, who is from Nottingham, but has been living in London for 36 years, first took to the boards in 1973 playing the role of the Blue Fairy. As well as pantos she has done many summer seasons and at the moment she is touring in Annie playing Miss Hannigan.

No interview with Su Pollard would be complete without mentioning her original take on fashion, which was highlighted in a national newspaper recently.

"Sometimes I lay my clothes out the night before, but often I just wear what I fancy, regardless of whether the items go together. Some of my clothes are 30 years old, and the most important thing is the material."

Commenting on her deliciously exuberant personality she said: "I'm very fortunate as my cup is always three-quarters full. I can't have negativity."

Bournemouth resident Chris Jarvis is also a panto regular and this will be his 16th, and fourth in Bournemouth.

As Muddles, he will in effect be the 'children's friend'.

"Muddles' role is to work with the audience - and to annoy the Wicked Queen," said Chris who is as bubbly in every day life as he is on stage.

He came into showbusiness through the variety route of Butlin's, cabaret and radio, and today in addition to being a children's presenter he works with a number of orchestras including the Nottingham, London and BBC Philharmonic.

He is passionate about panto.

"It is a child's first experience of the theatre, and it is important that the story makes sense. Panto is in a good condition at the moment and is no longer a slave of the charts. We use songs from musicals, TV adverts and hits from the past. In ways TV has done us a great service. There are few sitcoms and we're taking over that role, producing clean comedy with music."

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs from Saturday 5th December to Sunday 3rd January at Bournemouth Pavilion.

The ticketline is 0844 576 3000.

Marilyn Barber

mbarber@bvmedia.co.uk