CONSIDERING that terrorists once tried to blow her up when she was playing Bournemouth’s Pier Theatre, actress Vicki Michelle seems remarkably fond of the place.

Seventeen years ago – when she was appearing there with Lionel Blair, Su Pollard and Les Dennis in the farce Don’t Dress For Dinner – an IRA bomb was discovered clamped beneath the 800-seat theatre.

Fortunately, the detonator had dropped into the sea.

But Vicki, best remembered as French waitress Yvette Carte-Blanche in the BBC sitcom ’Allo ’Allo, admits the episode – in the midst of an incendiary bomb attack on the town – was “terrifying”.

“We made all the jokes about giving an explosive performance, but it was very frightening,” says Vicki, 59.

“I found myself thinking, ‘Oh my God, we might not be here if things hadn’t gone the way they did’,” she recalls.

The play was delayed but not derailed.

After moving temporarily to the nearby Bournemouth International Centre while a security sweep of the pier was carried out, the show was able to return to its original venue for the rest of a thankfully uneventful run.

Uneventful that is, except for the fact that this was the very tour where Les Dennis was to meet his future (now ex) wife Amanda Holden, who was playing Liesl Von Trapp in The Sound of Music just down the road at the Pavilion Theatre.

All that, though, is long in the past, and Vicki, who has played the Pier Theatre on several occasions since, is once again treading the boards there, this time in the Ray Cooney farce, Wife Begins At Forty, from June 4 to 6.

“I’ve never done the play before, but I’ve done other Ray Cooney pieces.

“It’s very funny, although it has some serious moments. It also has a really strong cast, which is vital for a farce.”

A classic piece of Cooney theatre, it focuses on a failing marriage and the lengths that people will go to to rekindle the passion in their relationships. The production also stars Trevor Bannister, of Are You Being Served fame, and ex-Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry.

“The writing is so true to life, and I love the cast,” says Vicki. “I can’t even look at Mark Curry, as his face is so funny!”

In spite of all the incidents in the past, Vicki says she loves appearing in Bournemouth.

“The last time I was in Bournemouth, this woman just ran up to me, smiled and hugged me. She then ran off without saying a word, but I thought it was such a nice thing to do.”

She is particularly fond of the sweeping views of Poole Bay and the beautiful Dorset coastline, there to be enjoyed just a few steps from her dressing room door.

“It is in such a fantastic place, absolutely beautiful.We all love coming to Bournemouth, it’s one of the best locations you can have.”

Pier celebrates 50 years of variety

VICKI is joining Wife Begins At Forty cast members Trevor Bannister and Mark Curry at a special dinner on June 6 to celebrate 50 years of variety at the Pier Theatre.

The function, at Key West, will also be attended by Ed Stewart, Don Maclean and Carry On star Liz Fraser. Dorset’s own Sinatra tribute artist Anthony Adams provides the entertainment.

Ted Rogers starred in Carry On Laughing, the first variety show at the Pier Theatre, in June 1960.

Tickets available from the box office.