THE words of legendary children’s author Enid Blyton will be brought to life on radio by one of Britain’s national treasures.

Joanna Lumley, herself a former boarding school child, will summon up the jolly hockey sticks era for BBC Radio 4 by taking part in a season of classic girls’ school tales. Ms Lumley will read Blyton’s 1947 tale The Cheat, which will be broadcast next month for the afternoon series, Good Show Clarissa.

The season, including stories from the 1920s, 30s and 40s, will also feature readings from Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren.

Blyton drew inspiration from a host of Purbeck landmarks for her Famous Five and Secret Seven books, and she admitted the county was a huge influence on her career.

PC Plod in the Noddy books, for example, was based on the late PC Christopher Rone of Studland.

Kirrin Castle is popularly believed to be based on Corfe Castle; Whispering Island is based on Brownsea Island; while Mystery Moor is reputedly set on the heath between Stoborough and Corfe.

Ms Lumley, who recorded her programme while working on Broadway, said: “Blyton had a very clear sense of right and wrong, and this short story is rather wonderful in the way the dilemma of being a cheat is resolved.

“I was at boarding school and I recognise the quietness of a dormitory when all the other girls are asleep, the face-reddening terror of being found out doing something wrong, and the absence of parental influence except as a distant memory of all that is decent.”

Dame Helen will voice A Midnight Revel by Angela Brazil, dating back to 1925.

Cranford star Lisa Dillon will read Hilda Richards’ 1939 story Jemima Gets Them Guessing.

The programmes are being broadcast on March 8, 9 and 10 at 3.30pm.