Some women are drippin with diamonds, some women are drippin with pearls, lucky me, lucky me, look at what I m drippin with, little girls! Running an orphanage was perhaps not the ideal job for mean-tempered spinster Miss Hannigan – but for TV star Vic

Some women are drippin' with diamonds, some women are drippin' with pearls, lucky me, lucky me, look at what I'm drippin' with, little girls!

Running an orphanage was perhaps not the ideal job for mean-tempered spinster Miss Hannigan - but for TV star Vicki Michelle the role is perfect.

"I don't like the role of Miss Hannigan, I love it," she says with passion.

Vicki, best known for the role of Yvette in 'Allo 'Allo, will be joining the local cast of Annie at the Gordon Craig Theatre next week.

She says: "I'm very excited about the production. I think the thing about having a semi-professional cast, or just people who aren't in the business, is the enthusiasm.

"They are so willing to learn, there is a real energy coming off, which is so important in a musical."

Annie is the heart-warming tale of a young orphan and her escape from the orphanage, where the evil Miss Hannigan reigns.

"I've played Miss Hannigan twice before, and I'm so excited about doing it again," says Vicki.

"Miss Hannigan is such a great character and Annie is a great show.

"Hannigan is just one of those roles - you love to hate her.

"I love playing the baddie. You get to a certain age where you can play the baddie.

"If you're too young you tend to play the goodies, but then you get older, and you think - yes, I can play baddies now!"

So an Annie veteran such as Vicki, along with anyone who has ever seen Annie, must have a favourite part?

"I love the song Little Girls, and probably Easy Street, which I sing with Rooster and his girlfriend - it's a great number for the end of the first act.

"Oh, and the Christmas scene at the end - it's just gorgeous."

Since leaving 'Allo 'Allo, Vicki has worked on television projects, but has also been a regular on the stage.

"I'm an actress first and foremost, but when you go to stage school you sing, dance, and act.

"In fact I wanted to be a ballet dancer when I was very small.

"But being in a musical, it's a genre where you can act and sing."

Nasty Miss Hannigan is renowned for her hatred of the young orphans, but Vicki does not have any similarities to her character!

"I'm quite the opposite of Miss Hannigan - I don't hate children," she says, laughing.

As well as donning Miss Hannigan's bright red lipstick and shouting at little girls, Vicky will also be starring in Emmerdale this month as Patricia Foster, mother of Johnny Foster, and can be seen in the panto Robin Hood in Worthing at Christmas.

Annie will run from August 13-18.

Tickets start from £16.50 and are available from the box office on 08700 131030 or online at www.gordon-craig.co.uk