A star of Shameless, the Brittas Empire and Peppa Pig will perform a collection of her short stories in Clapham and she’s bringing along some talented friends along too.

Judy Flynn, whose work also includes Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, wrote the eight stories that make up Last Christmas while in between jobs.

They will get a one-off performance at Omnibus on December 5, alongside her friends and fellow performers Alison Steadman, Morwenna Banks, Stephanie Jacob and Julia Barrie.

Judy, who lives in Streatham Hill, told us: “You know what it’s like acting. I’ve always written stuff.

“I got a commission for Radio 4 earlier this year to write a 15 minute story and then just realised I had quite a few together that I hadn’t sent to an agent or publisher or anything.”

Marie McCarthy – who has known Judy for a while – got in touch and the pair decided the stories would suit the venue perfectly.

Judy said: “I went in to meet her and I said I have got some other stories and they’re all sort of about love in a way, but a bit weird as well. They’re not straight love stories, something might go a bit awry.

“We just thought it would suit the venue and people like being read stories to. They’re all amusing, they’re funny.”

The eight stories vary in length and will be presented in two 40 minute halves, with mulled wine and nibbles and a Q&A if there is sufficient demand.

They include:

  • When a Dog Bites, the fantastical tale of an ill-fated love affair and a showbiz dog.
  • No Mountain High Enough, which aired on Radio 4 earlier this year and is about a romantic weekend in the Lake District that goes awry.
  • Chrysanthemums, where a florist takes her bicycle to the asylum.

Explaining her motivations for wanted to tell the stories to the public, Judy said: “I just like to entertain a bit.

“I find it exciting that you might entertain someone for a while or lose them or make them laugh.

“I do play a lot of women who are crying a lot. When I was younger, I did a lot more comedy, but then I seem to be playing women who are crying all the time – which is fine – but sometimes it is nice to have an outlet to do something different.”

When it came to finding people to help tell the stories, Judy knew just the people.

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She had worked with Olivier Award winning stage, film and TV star Alison Steadman in a one-off drama called Who Gets the Dog.

She said: “We were stuck together on the Isle of Man for a while. Alison was the lead in it with Kevin Whately, I was doing a few scenes. On the Isle of Man they have to get you over and keep you there so we got to know each other quite well.”

Fans of the television show will probably remember her partnership with Morwenna Banks, too.

Judy said: “We played a horrible couple who were employed by a private company to evict everyone from the Chatsworth Estate. That was quite a laugh. I was the horrible, slimy sidekick to her high-powered suited woman.”

She added: “I’m really thrilled that they can do it because I know how busy they both are. Morwenna writes and produces and does so much and Alison is always in demand.”

Last Christmas is at Omnibus, Clapham, on Saturday, December 5. Tickets cost £15 or £12 concessions. Go to omnibus-clapham.org or call 020 7498 4699.