New musical Betty Blue Eyes tempts Sarah Lancashire back to the stage

Sarah Lancashire has been taking time out from acting to pursue writing projects, but she put everything on hold to star in Betty Blue Eyes which is Cameron Mackintosh's first new musical in a decade.

It is based on Alan Bennett’s “A Private Function” and Lancashire is set to play Joyce which is the part Maggie Smith played in the 1984 film.

The  former Coronation Street actress (she played barmaid Raquel for a number of years) last appeared in musical theatre five years ago in Michael Grandage's award-winning production of Guys And Dolls,  but her critically acclaimed appearance was cut short by ill health as she had to pull out after a month with a chest infection.

Betty Blue Eyes opens at the Novello Theatre in March. Tickets go on sale on 29th November.

The musical has been in development for a while, and focuses on a community preparing to celebrate the royal wedding of the Queen to Prince Philip. Lancashire said: “I think William and Kate have timed their wedding superbly. The piece is extraordinarily resonant at the moment. I'm just utterly thrilled to be doing it.”