Meeting Eric Morecambe is my best memory of the whole film Night Train to Murder. He was a wonderful human being. I cannot praise him too highly. He was even funnier off screen than on. He was a naturally generous and kind-hearted person, who had time for everyone, an enthusiasm for life, and personally I feel privileged to have met him.

When I first interviewed for the part of Cousin Zelda in the film, I reminded him that my husband, Michael O’Hagan, had acted with him twenty years previously in panto, and at that time, Eric, as a surprise, had given dinner jackets to him and the property master, so they could go to the black-tie charity affair to which they had been invited. And Eric had tucked money into their pockets so they could buy drinks and hold their own at the Comedians’ Table. Eric remembered Michael, and, when I told him he had driven me to the interview, he jumped up and insisted Michael came in. After all those years, he still had time for his ‘mates’.

I used to try and spend as much time with Eric off stage as well as on because he was such an interesting and humorous man – he came at life from such a refreshing and insightful angle, and he made me laugh when we acted together.

Unfortunately, I did not think the script was funny, and I was really worried that our scenes would not work. When I voiced my concerns, I was told that this was light entertainment and Joe would get it together in the editing. I did not feel at all happy doing the film, although I was delighted to meet up with the truly gifted Kenneth Haigh again, and we had a really good cast. Lysette Anthony was one of the most beautiful girls you could hope to see, and even with such a good cast the film did not work. At the time I had not worked in light entertainment and so I thought it must be my inexperience that made me so anxious, but unfortunately my instincts were correct. Eric and Ernie shelved the film themselves and it only came out after Eric had died. I have not seen it – I do not want to depress myself! Nothing is wasted and I learned a lot, including to trust my own instincts, and I had the joy of meeting and spending time with Eric Morecambe. I also got to keep a beautifully comfortable pair of high shoes that were made for me – those were the days! – so much so that I went to the shoe shop that had made my last, thanks to Thames Television, and I ordered another pair, which were a disaster. I have no idea why, extremely uncomfortable and I think I gave them away!! These days I would have taken them back and made them do it again, but I wasn’t so brave then!

The cast and crew did socialise together in the bar at Thames Television in Teddington. It was always one of the favourite places to work as it was situated on a beautiful spot on the River Thames, and everyone treated you very well. I didn’t know how we lunched in the bar in those days and then went to do an afternoon’s work!! My method is much more disciplined these days but then I am a lot older and I hope wiser!