IT may be a long way to travel from the East End, but a top soap star did not hesitate to come to Blackpool and promote a drama centre's new show.

For Jacqueline Leonard, alias EastEnder Lorraine Wicks, learned her trade at that same centre - Whittaker's on Hornby Road.

Having been brought up on the Fylde Coast and one of the centre's star proteges, the centre was convinced Jacqueline was the perfect person to add some celebrity status to the launch for Another Laughing Shoe Show.

During her brief visit on Monday (December 15) she posed for photographs and met current pupils and staff, including her former teacher Jack Ganley.

He said: "Jacqueline was one of the most talented students I have ever taught, being able to act comedy and drama equally well.

"She was always willing to learn - add to these qualities her tenacity and resilience, it was always clear she would be a success on stage and screen."

Lorraine herself has some pretty magical memories of her time at Whittaker's, listing playing Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Grand Theatre, in which she was hoisted above the stage in a car, as one of the highlights.

She also took the lead in Dream Man in 1985 before studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Since then she has toured theatres all over the country and appeared in Peak Practice before landing her role in EastEnders.

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