FOR 21 years, Beverley Callard was best known as Coronation Street’s Liz McDonald – tackling family feuds, a violent husband, numourous lovers and working behind the iconic Rovers Return bar during her various stints on the cobbles.

Now she’s ‘more at home’ on stage, as she plays Mari Hoff in the UK tour of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice – a dramatic, yet heartwarming northern tale, which shouldn’t be too unfamiliar for the Leeds-born soap star.

Yet while Liz was known for her a high drama life – and even higher hemlines, which are shared with Mari, Beverley says adapting to the role of an alcoholic, grieving and wacky mother wasn’t easy.

“Taking on the role of Mari was quite difficult, she isn’t the easiest of characters to play,” she said. “She doesn’t know how to get her daughter back after a break down in communication after her husband dies.

“It’s a very sad story, you will laugh and cry,” said Beverley who was overwhelmed to be working on the show.

Although the show is not a musical, it features musical performances, when late at night, Little Voice retreates into her own world to sing – imitating great performers such as Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother’s boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special.

The story is perhaps best known from the 1998 film starring Rossendale actress Jane Horrocks as Little Voice – a role recreated on the West End stage in 2009 by Blackburn X Factor starlet Diana Vickers, to critical acclaim.

The touring production hit the road last year and its popularity with audiences secured an extended run into 2013 and stopping off in Beverley’s adopted home city Manchester at the end of the month.

“Originally we were supposed to be only doing the show for 12 weeks last year and that was going to be it,” Beverley said. “But because it went down so well we had a standing ovation every night the show continued from there. But so far the show is going really really well,” said Beverley who made her TV debut in 1984 on Emmerdale Farm.

The former Loose Women panellist said that when writer and director, Jim Cartwright, from Farnworth, approached her to star in the production she was ready for the challenge.

“I am so happy to be working with Jim, he is amazing to work with.

“I also love being back on stage because it was 10 years since I was on stage before I became involved with the show and it feels good to be performing in front of a live audience.

“There are only a couple of scenes that Mari isn’t in so you can imagine, it’s quite an intense role and I had a lot of lines to learn,” said Beverley.

She is working alongside Ray Quinn, who’s appeared in Brookside and the X Factor as well as theatre shows Dirty Dancing and Grease.

Currently Beverley is living with 10 of her fellow cast members under one roof, while the show is on tour.

She said: “We are all living together and it’s great fun. We have a fantastic relationship and being together makes the show work even better in my opinion. We all get on so well and the atmosphere is just fabulous.”

Also known for her fitness videos and DVDs, Beverley has no plans for more of these – although she is happy to be busy.

“I will be working with Jim again as well as being on stage, I am keeping my options open.

“I can say that I am staring in a new comedy show for the BBC and there are a few other things in the pipeline. As for TV, I will never say never, I absolutely loved playing Liz but at the moment my heart is on stage.”

  • Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Manchester Opera House, Monday, April 29 to Saturday, May 4. Details from 0844 871 3018.