Its completely different to anything I ve had the opportunity to do in the past. Its very dark, intense and moving. (No tan, hair extentions or eyelashes in sight ha ) Im loving the challenge and hope it will showcase me in a serious role.

It’s part of the Liverpool International Write Now Festival, and will be screened at The Liverpool Actors Studio, Seel Street, L1 4BE

Friday 30th March 8-9pm

Monday 2nd April 9.30-10.30pm

Friday 6th April  6-7pm.

Hope you can make it x

TELEVISION stars ditched their designer shoes for trainers in a rough-and-tumble workout for the Madison Allan Appeal.

Scott Wright, who played Coronation Street mechanic Sam Kingston until 2002, organised the awareness-raising ‘bootcamp’ for his showbiz friends, after retraining as a celebrity personal trainer.

He first met Madison, of Lower Darwen, when she was two, and they jointly switched on Darwen’s Christmas lights.

Since her death from aggressive childhood cancer neuroblastoma on Boxing Day, he has vowed to bring public attention to the condition.

Among stars working up a sweat were Coronation Street’s Catherine Tyldesley who plays Eva Price, and Shobna Gulati who plays Sunita Alahan, Sally Dynevor who plays Sally Webster and Suzanne

Also getting in on the act were Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher who plays Andy Sugden, and several Big Brother names from the past including Craig Phillips, Lisa Appleton and Mario Marconi.

Scott, 37, said: “I knew Madison well, and she seemed to like me. I even named my little girl Lexi Madison after her.

“When she died I was determined to keep her memory alive, and now I want to give that a big, big push.

“It’s not hard for me to get my friends together and to make a few phone calls.

“It was a good day putting them all through their paces and getting them to trott about. I now want to do something to raise awareness of Neuroblastoma every couple of months.”

Alison Foster, Madison’s grandmother, attended the event in Hale, Cheshire.

She said: “It was wonderful to see so many people wearing T-shirts with Madison’s picture on, and to start the campaign.”

http://bit.ly/zijN4B 

Aladdin runs from 2nd to 31st December and also stars:

Louis Emerick (Last of the Summer Wine, Layer Cake, Brookside) – The Genie
Roger Kitter (Allo Allo) – Widow Twankey
Michael Absalom (CBeebies ‘Best of Friends” & CBBC) – Aladdin
Richard Ashton (Channel 5s New Adventures of Robin Hood

To book tickets: http://www.seetickets.com/Venue/Middleton-Arena-Manchester/6217

Middleton Arena – Telephone: 0844 855 4020

This has just been sent in:

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS MY ADMIRATION FOR SUZANNES PERFORMANCE IN PANTO AT THE MIDDLETON ARENA.NOT ONLY IS SHE GORGEOUS BUT ALSO A REALLY NICE PERSON.KIND REGARDS. ADMIRER

“It went amazing, I love it! It’s a fabulous company filled with talent, love and laughter!”

Aladdin runs from 2nd to 31st December and also stars:

Louis Emerick (Last of the Summer Wine, Layer Cake, Brookside) – The Genie
Roger Kitter (Allo Allo) – Widow Twankey
Michael Absalom (CBeebies ‘Best of Friends” & CBBC) – Aladdin
Richard Ashton (Channel 5s New Adventures of Robin Hood

To book tickets: http://www.seetickets.com/Venue/Middleton-Arena-Manchester/6217

Middleton Arena – Telephone: 0844 855 4020

The time has flown since I started my Marathon diary back in February, and it’s been quite a journey.

I last ran a marathon back in 2002, and whilst I keep myself fit and active, I didn’t quite realise the challenge that I was about to take on.

My biggest obstacle oddly though wasn’t the physical side of things, Richard, the Marathon Training Co-ordinator kept all of that side in check, it was quite simply, time – or rather the lack of it!

I’ve always thought I was pretty adept at balancing my work-life, my home-life, being a mum, keeping in touch with friends, seeing the family; you know, all the usual stuff – it’s all a massive juggling act for us all. But factor in training for a long-distance race and things get really interesting!

Needless to say it’s been hard training when the head said yes, but the body said no – but I’ve persevered and it’s paid off. I feel way more confident about talking on the distance from those rainy mornings running round the Park – but I’m certainly not glib about it. I even took my trainers on holiday and squeezed in a run at 6.00am in Mallorca with fellow Marathon ambassador Craig Phillips!

I know that the marathon will be a test but I feel I’m doing it for all the right reasons, especially for the memory of my lovely Mum, and raising money for Diabetes UK – my daughter Mya has spurred me on also, knowing that I am ‘doing it for Nanny Cally.’

In fact my friends and family have been right behind me since day one and we’re all taking part in the Fab Four Mile Fun Run, the day before the Marathon itself. It’s a family warm-up jog in Sefton Park, on Saturday October 8, partly designed for us marathon runners to stretch our legs before the big day, but it’s mainly about spending some time with loved ones – gently jogging those pre-race nerves away together! You don’t have to be a marathon runner to take part in Fab Four Miler – anyone can join in, and it’s dead easy to enter via the main RunLiverpool Marathon website.

Well this is my last pre-marathon diary entry nearly complete. Thanks to all the kind messages of support and interest over the last few months – I’ll be back in October to tell you what it was like.

Don’t forget to come out and cheer us all on, on October 9, (there’s still places available on my cheerleading classes for young people aged 6-16, running up to the event, details below) – it makes it so much more worthwhile and exciting -  it’s great knowing that your city is behind you every step of the way!

Suzanne Collins is an ambassador for the RunLiverpool Marathon, which takes place in the city region on October 9. Charity places are still available to runners. To register your place and also sign up for the Fab Four Mile Fun Run, please visit www.runliverpoolmarathon.co.ukor call 0151 236 8432. If you would like to sponsor Suzanne, please visit www.justgiving.com/suzanne-collins0and for more information on Suzanne’s Cheerleading classes please call 0151 653 3150.

I’ve really struggled to fit in training, as I’ve been exhausted from my run in Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels, with a show every night and two on Saturdays.

My role as Maggie was physically demanding, with lots of dancing, playing to packed houses – the curtain wasn’t coming down till 11pm on some nights!

In the daytime I’ve been delivering a number of drama workshops and I’ve also started cheerleading classes on the Wirral and in Liverpool to cheer on Marathon runners. The classes are for boys & girls aged 6 to 16 – so if you’d like to book a place, please contact me through RunLiverpool.

You know, there are loads of opportunities for people who aren’t running to be part of the event – from volunteers to entertainers such as musicians and dancers to brass and steel bands! I’d encourage everyone to get involved as it’s going to be amazing, a real spectacle – again, you can contact the team at RunLiverpool for more information.

In the midst of my guilt about falling off the training wagon, my old youth worker Jim Walsh called me up and we managed to snatch a few half-hour runs over Bidston Hill. Jim helped me train for the London Marathon in 2002. He’s recently turned 65 and is such an inspiration! I had a lovely surprise the other morning, with the delivery of a large parcel from Mizuno who are the RunLiverpool Marathon’s foot and sportswear sponsors. Packed full of goodies like Mizuno running tops and shorts, there was also a personal invitation for me to visit their pop-up store at the event, where they will give me a running shoe assessment using biomechanics – it all sounds very scientific!

It was lovely of the Mizuno guys to think of me and I can’t wait to try out my new kit. I usually run in old sweat-tops and t-shirts so it will be good to get out and about in some great looking gear!

I’m starting to get quite excited now that October 9 is approaching. The buzz about the Marathon seems to be spreading far afield too – I’ve a mate in Sydney who emailed me with some coverage he saw about the race in his local paper.

There seems to be lots of ex-pat scousers spread across the globe who are using the race as a good reason to come back to the city and see family and friends. I’ve heard that over 9,000 runners are signed up now.

I can’t imagine what that will look like when they are packing the city’s streets, however I’m sure it’ll be quite an emotionally-charged experience – a moment of pure Liverpool pride.

Suzanne Collins is an ambassador for the RunLiverpool Marathon, which takes place in the city on October 9. The closing date for Marathon entries is August 5, with only 1500 places left. To register your place please visit www.runliverpoolmarathon.co.uk
For information on volunteering or performing at the race, call 0151 236 8432.

My Nan passed away this month – she was 93 and my inspiration – we were very close and one of my biggest supporters. I loved visiting her and telling her what I was up to. Earlier in the year when I was toying with running the marathon, she told me that I should grasp every opportunity and you know what – she was right. Training for the marathon is my chance not only to get fit and achieve personal goals, but also to help people by raising money for my charity, Diabetes UK.

As part of my marathon training, I completed the Tunnel 10k – the race is one of the first fitness assessments for all coached runners in October’s Marathon.

I was a little apprehensive as it’s the furthest I’ve run since the London Marathon in 2002. I also wasn’t looking forward to taking on the incline as you come out of the Wallasey Tunnel on the Wirral side of The Mersey, but in the end it wasn’t too bad.

Richard Othen, the Marathon Training Co-Ordinator ran alongside me, as well as one of my best friends Amy Corris who has also enrolled for the Marathon. I got into my stride pretty quickly and as I crossed the finish on New Brighton Promenade, I felt like I could have gone on and on – I was so happy!

You know, I’m really benefitting from having that personal input and don’t think I could attempt the marathon without Richard’s training programme.

My strength and stamina has improved but also my mental attitude has too – I’m believing more in my ability, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and I’m planning to go along to the monthly marathon workshops he’s running at LJMU – on of the guest speakers is Prof Greg Whyte who trained Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow when they climbed Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief. Looks like I’m in good company.

The other big challenge I’ve faced is trying to find time to run, with a crazy work schedule. I’m currently on stage at The Royal Court in Brick
Up The Mersey Tunnels and the 12-hour rehearsal days have made training tricky.

Late nights and early mornings have really taken their toll on Richard’s programme, but now the play has opened it frees me up in the daytime
to run before heading to the theatre in the afternoon.

My dressing room is at the very top of the theatre so I’m even making the most of running up and down all those stairs!

As you can see, all in all, it’s been quite a month – let’s see what August has in store!

Suzanne Collins is an ambassador for the RunLiverpool Marathon, which takes place in the city on October 9, and will be running for her chosen charity Diabetes UK in memory of her mother.

For more information on the available marathon training programmes and workshops please visit www.runliverpoolmarathon.co.uk