FOR Oldham-born actress Helen Fraser, returning to the story that made her name is bittersweet.

She met her husband of 33 years, Oscar-winning sound recordist Peter Handford on the set of 1963 film Billy Liar. Sadly, Peter died two years ago.

The young Helen became well-known after her portrayal of Barbara, one of the eponymous hero's long-suffering love interests.

In the Middle Ground Theatre Company's stage adaptation, which arrives at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe next week, she's taken on the role of Billy's mother, Alice.

"It's been a bit strange for me," says the 67-year-old. "This job came up and I thought, 'I can't do it, I simply can't do it,' but someone said if I did accept the part I'll have come full circle.

"If you've seen the play you know that although Billy has big ambitions to escape and move to London, in reality everyone knows he'll stay, marry Barbara and eventually she'll turn into his mother. So in a way I'm playing Barbara grown up."

Based on Keith Waterhouse's 1959 novel, Billy Liar was transferred to the West End stage a year later and starred Albert Finney.

The story follows the fortunes of Billy Fisher, an undertaker's clerk living in a dull Yorkshire town.

Less than inspired by his job, he escapes his humdrum existence by daydreaming his way to a mythical, fantasy kingdom.

With aspirations to be a script writer, his overactive imagination leads him to tell constant tall tales with chaotic consequences.

"The producers are actually using some of my husband's sound recordings from the 1960s," says Helen, who is familiar to millions as formidable prison officer Sylvia 'Bodybag' Hollamby, in long-running ITV series Bad Girls.

"Peter was a great recorder of steam trains and they're using those original effects in this play, which is of course very evocative for me.

"But it's lovely because I feel as though he's there and watching over it. I know it was the right thing to do.

"I was very young and inexperienced when I made the film, but even when we were making it, we knew we were making a classic."

In fact, Helen was recently reunited with on-screen fiancé Billy, actor Sir Tom Courtenay, for The Royle Family Christmas special.

"We trained together at RADA," she says. "We'd seen each other at various award ceremonies over the years, but we'd not actually worked together since Billy Liar.

"It was so funny to be back on the sofa together 40 years on."

Helen will be joined by Stoke-born professional actor James Morley, who appears as Billy's father Geoffrey.

James, originally from Victoria Road, Fenton, worked as a psychiatric nurse before becoming an actor.

His real name is Kevin Clarke (he changed it after finding another actor registered with the same name) and his first role was as an Italian waiter in local director Norman Williams's Neapolitan Holiday.

Now living in the Lake District with wife Jan, from Burslem, the devoted Stoke City fan is looking forward to returning to home territory.

"It's difficult to see Stoke play, because I'm usually working on Saturdays," says 52-year-old James, whose TV credits include Casualty and Hetty Wainthrop Investigates.

"If I'm on stage I'll search whatever means I can to find out the score.

"I'm on the final stretch of our tour with Billy Liar, but it's been fantastic. It's a good show – funny, touching and nostalgic."

Billy Liar is at Crewe's Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday, March 9 until Saturday, March 13. Call the box office on 01270 537333 for tickets.