There are certain parts that actors are remembered for even though they may not have played the role for decades. Many viewers remember Susie Blake as the snooty continuity announcer on Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV. Yet it’s 40 years since she came out with such gems as “We’d like to apologise to viewers in the north. It must be awful for them.”

Susie has had a stellar career since then. It’s included a spell in Coronation Street – “it’s the hardest work I’ve ever done” – and she regularly turns up as the snobbish Hillary Nicholson in Mrs Brown’s Boys – “yes, of course it’s Marmite but when it works it’s delicious.”

Susie is now preparing for a return to Derby Theatre to star in the second part of a trilogy by Torbin Betts. Murder at Midnight follows on from Murder in the Dark which toured in 2023 and 2024. But Susie is quick to point out that the two plays are entirely different.

“It’s exciting because it’s new. It’s a very funny black comedy with a lot of different, interesting people. There is a murder at midnight but I can’t tell you about that.”

The play also features Jason Durr, known for his appearances in the period drama Heartbeat and for a seven-year stint as David Hide in the hospital drama Casualty.

Susie plays the mother of Jason’s character: “It’s not entirely clear how dotty she is – or perhaps she’s not. It’s a lovely part to play. Torbin writes wonderfully for old ladies. The last character I played (Mrs Bateman in Murder in the Dark), she was nuts! What fun! And to be given a part like that is like manna from heaven. So I’d go a long way to do one of his plays.”

Both Midnight plays are directed by Philip Franks. “He’s my number one favourite director,” says Susie. “I think this will be the fourth time we’ve worked together. He’s the kind of director that makes the actor feel free and capable and brave because he’s never critical. He makes suggestions and he’s been instrumental in giving me confidence to push the boundaries.

“It’s like going back into the ‘50s and ‘60s doing weekly rep to suddenly be presented with another very different part. Of course nobody my age would’ve been given any parts at all back then. I think we’re luckier now.”

Susie Blake was born on 19 April 1950 at Highgate, London. She was born into a famous family: her maternal grandmother was the children’s entertainer Annette Mills who presented the BBC TV children’s series Muffin the Mule; her uncle was the actor John Mills; and her cousins are the actresses Juliet and Hayley Mills.

After training at Arts Educational Schools (or ArtsEd) and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Susie quickly gained work on television. Her first break came when she appeared on Russ Abbot’s Madhouse where she stayed for four years.

When she was appearing in a collection of short plays at the King’s Head pub theatre in Islington, Victoria Wood was in the audience and asked to speak to Susie. The idea was for Susie to be the continuity announcer reciting a monologue in the style of Patricia Routledge.

“When I read it I was laughing so much I don’t know how she could see how I could do it. The continuity lady was used throughout the show. What an absolute gift!”

Victoria Wood died from cancer in 2016. “When I’m talking about her I still have to remind myself she’s no longer with us,” says Susie. “I’m still surprised, in the way you want to suddenly ring your mum and you realise you can’t. It’s so wrong that she’s not here.”

Another highlight of Susie’s career was pulling pints as barmaid Bev Unwin in the Rovers Return. “My mum who would have been 86 at the time said ’you really ought to do a soap’. It’d never been on my radar because I like playing lots of different characters. But it’s never the same script, so you’re developing and changing all the time.

“It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done, apart from Mrs Brown’s Boys which is insanely hard. But, yes, it is extraordinary.”

Susie believes she couldn’t go back to Coronation Street now: “It was very difficult to get all those lines under your belt. It wasn’t in front of a live audience but nevertheless there was no rehearsal, you said it once and it was recorded. I’d never worked like that before, so it was quite an eye-opener.”

Susie has done the occasional serious role on television, such as appearing in the police procedural drama New Tricks in 2014. But she is content to do whatever comes along.

“I’m not an intellectual actress, put it that way. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I think of myself as an entertainer so I’m very happy with the way things have gone. I mean, I’m still working. What more can you want? I’m so grateful.”

“We’re bringing them lots of delicious surprises.”

Talking about Mrs Brown’s Boys, Susie says her role in the comedy series is challenging: “The character I play is so pompous and awful that I can’t allow myself to have a laugh. Brendan O’Carroll is incredibly respectful of what you bring to the show.

“Again it’s very last minute. You don’t get the script until the Friday and then you’re shooting it the following Thursday. You get two days’ rehearsal and then it’s in front of the cameras.

“Yes, of course it’s Marmite but when it works it’s delicious. I thought the last New Year’s episode was absolutely at its best. If you haven’t seen it, have a look because it’s got some very good performances and it’s proper slapstick comedy.”

Now Susie is concentrating on the tour of Murder at Midnight. She is aware the show will have competition from other plays which feature murder including the likes of Inspector Morse – House of Ghosts which will star Derbyshire’s Tom Chambers and Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift.

“With those plays people might have preconceived ideas about what they’re going to see whereas with ours they won’t have any idea. We’re bringing them lots of delicious surprises.”

Susie compares Murder at Midnight with Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap which she has seen twice recently, each time with a different cast. Again Philip Franks was the director.

“I loved it and I thought the acting was superb. It’s all character-based and I think Murder at Midnight is too.”

Theatre is Susie’s first love because of “the joy of telling a story from beginning to end”. She prefers it to television: “I like to take my bow at the end of the evening and go off to have cheese and biscuits and sleep well.”

She enjoys working in an ensemble and relishes touring especially since her mother died and Susie has no one who depends on her.

“That whole feeling of family is incredibly important to me. I do whatever I can to look after everybody (in the company) in any way possible – just to be there, a shoulder to cry on or somebody to have a laugh or a drink with.

“It’s difficult touring, especially for youngsters if they’ve got families at home. It’s all right for me now because I’m not leaving anyone behind. But I’m well aware that it’s a struggle and you need to keep up people’s enthusiasm and joy.”

Like many actors, Susie has never known what she’s going to be doing next. About the second of the Torben Betts’ trilogy, she laughs: “I hope I’m going to live long enough to be in the third one as well!”

So is there anything else she’d like to do? “I can think of things I don’t want to do! I just think more theatre. I’ve always loved touring. I suppose it would be nice to settle in a theatre for a bit longer than a week but then I might get bored. I’m very happy with the way things are going.”

Would she fancy appearing in The Mousetrap? “I wouldn’t say no,” she stresses.

I could see her playing Mrs Boyle, the irascible visitor to Monkswell Manor who . . . I can’t tell you what happens. Like everyone who sees the show at St Martin’s Theatre, I’m sworn to secrecy. Suffice to say Susie Blake would be just as good as Mrs Boyle as she’s been in every other show she’s been in.

Murder at Midnight will be at Derby Theatre from 5 until 13 September 2025

* This article originally appeared in Country Images magazine