Su Pollard is best known for playing bespectacled chalet maid Peggy in Hi-de-Hi! but now she is heading to Richmond Theatre to play alcoholic orphanage mistress Miss Hannigan in Annie. She spoke to Will Gore about acting drunk, singing dogs, and being given the surprise of her life by Michael Aspel.

Will Gore: Is Annie an enjoyable show to do?

Su Pollard: We have been fortunate to have been really well received. The show is 30 years old now and most people know what is about. It is a feel-good story and people can bring their children without fear of being offended.

WG: Miss Hannigan is a troubled soul, isn’t she?

SP: Poor Miss Hannigan. People always say: “Oh my gosh, she is really nasty,” but she is only like that because of the drink. She has become so tormented after 20 years in the orphanage that she has gone to the Jack Daniels and become addled.

WG: Have you been having a few drinks to help get yourself into character?

SP: I said to my director: “I think I need some expenses so that I can go on a pub crawl.” He told me to use my imagination. I didn’t get away with that one. You have to be careful when acting drunk, it is so easy to overdo it.

WG: Tell us about your run in with a performing pooch.

SP: I got beaten by a singing dog in Opportunity Knocks. It was a jack russell who sang a duet with this bloke who came on dressed as a farmer. He sang Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!, the dog went “Ow” and that was it it. They won and I was mortified. I thought my career was over before it had started.

WG: Are you looking forward to coming to Richmond?

SP: I have a great fondness for Richmond, it’s a lovely place and the theatre is beautiful – quaint with lots of history.

WG: Have you performed at Richmond Theatre before?

SP: Loads of times, it was where I was surprised for This is Your Life. I was performing in panto and used to appeal after every show to the audience to donate money to raise funds to renovate the theatre. It was an idea thought up by the director who had colluded with the theatre manager. I had no idea I was being duped. One night, when I did the appeal, Michael Aspel popped up in his white suit. I said: “I can’t believe it, you swine!”

WG: Do you still get plenty of happy campers coming up to say “hi-de-hi”?

SP: All the time and I don’t mind at all, I will always reply with a “ho-de-ho”. Although recently, when I was in Romeo and Juliet as the nurse, I said my line: “There, there now Juliet, Romeo lovest thee,” and someone shouted: “Hi-de-hi”. Everyone killed themselves laughing but I had to stoically ignore it and carry on.

Annie, Richmond Theatre, September 1 -5, for times, prices and to book, visit ambassadortickets.com