Actress Lesley Joseph tells Viv Hardwick she's looking forward to returning to the North-East to star in a little-seen Alan Bennet show, despite staring death in the face during her last visit.

THE North-East holds some of TV star Lesley Joseph's fondest theatre memories... even though it's the place where she had a terrifying brush with death.

The Birds Of A Feather vamp swapped TV for theatre in 2000 to star in Annie, which visited both Sunderland and Newcastle, and pantomime Dick Whittington at Newcastle's Theatre Royal.

It was a decision by Lesley and famous co-star John Nettles to visit the nearby sights of the north-east coast that led to a sea drama which had no place in panto.

Lesley, 53, explains: "John Nettles and I drove up to Lindisfarne and got caught on the sea crossing last time I was here. It was just terrifying.

"We drove over and everything was going the other way and we thought 'why's everyone coming away because the sea's miles out? Oh well never mind' and off we drove to the island.

"We looked around the wonderful monastery and the castle and climbed up this and walked around that and went to the pub. Dark started to set in and we decided to go back.

"Off we drove and when we got to the crossing the sea was literally lashing over the causeway and you couldn't see where the road was and like stupid bunnies we drove into the water.

"John was driving and I was crying hysterically by his side and we edged over and the only way we found the road was because someone else had driven up and had their headlights on to guide us across.

"The sea, when it broke, was hitting the windscreen and it was terrifying. The water was to the top of the wheels and we just got through. If we'd stalled in the middle, God help us, I don't know what would have happened. We were absolutely mad, and I've never been so scared.

"Both of us were in such a state that we went back to Newcastle and had the biggest curry known to man just to try and heat ourselves up again. We were just so stupid."

Luckily the pair weren't appearing in panto that night because it was a Sunday and Lesley admits they got carried away with sight-seeing because the coastline was so beautiful.

"'Let's go over to the island', we'd said happily and it won't be something I'll do again in a hurry. It wasn't a four-wheel drive car. We were just on the cusp between being able to do it and drowning. So I can always say I laid my life on the line in pantomime in Newcastle."

Even so, Lesley is returning to Newcastle's Theatre Royal next month to star in an Alan Bennett double bill called Office Suite, two works written for TV ten years ago. Lesley links up with Edward Hardwicke, the actor most closely associated with the role of Dr Watson on TV, to perform A Visit From Miss Prothero. The bitter-sweet comedy is followed, after the interval, by Green Forms which stars Mary Cunningham and Debra Penny

Lesley says: "The plays have only been performed once on stage before so it feels like a new play, which, with Alan Bennett, is fantastic.

"You're watching a slice of people's lives so if you'd had me playing in both plays I think it would have detracted and more like 'let's see Lesley Joseph in a tour de force' as opposed to seeing the plays. It would have felt wrong."

As for her role alongside Edward Hardwicke, she says: "His father was Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Edward was at the National with Sir Laurence Olivier so I hear wonderful tales.

"Because we're only in the first one and on stage an hour, then we go for a drink and he regales me with tales of Hollywood and The National Theatre.

"He's a wonderful actor as well and it's great for me because I think it's the first proper play I've done for many years. I did Birds (of a Feather) for ten-and-a-half-years and in the middle of that I did a one-woman show - which I'm doing again this year - I did pantomime and lots of TV appearances.

"I toured Annie and then did Night And Day for ITV1, although I'm not sure what that was. Then I did the Vagina Monologues. So this is the first proper play I've done for ages. It was a bit scary because the whole thing is in a northern accent."

Lesley isn't quite sure which side of the Pennines her accent will fall, particularly after playing Miss Hannigan in Annie with a voice "sort of Boston-cum-Bronx-cum-Chigwell. I've always had bad reviews for my accent but this one is supposed to be outside Leeds, but I'm not sure my accent is that specific."

She's in love with Alan Bennett's writing and feels the playwright does half the work for her. "Every dot and comma means something because he writes so sparsely and there are some moments where the characters don't talk for about two minutes and sit in this dreadful silence. Neither knows what to say because they've worked together for 30 years, but they have no relationship as such.

"Have you seen Emmerdale? There's a character called Edna in that, and that's what I look like. A hat pulled down, overcoat and tight little blouse with flat shoes. Oh God!"

But it's a rare opportunity to act and a return to a city about which Lesley is as passionate as her alter ego Dorian might be with a Chigwell tennis coach.

She declares: "I love Newcastle, I have to say. I'm absolutely passionate about the place and it's one of my favourite towns.

"When you bring a play to Newcastle you know you're going to get such a reception there because people are so up for a good time. It's got a great lifeforce.

"Any city is great where you can walk around it and feel like you're better on foot. It's a phenomenal city"

* Office Suite runs at Newcastle's Theatre Royal from July 22 to 26. Box Office: (0870) 905 5060.