New River City star Juliet Cadzow is happy to keep busy over Christmas

Juliet Cadzow (BBC Scotland / Alan Peebles)

ANY thoughts of putting her feet up for a long Christmas break have been dashed for Juliet Cadzow.

But the former Balamory star and new River City arrival couldn’t be happier.

Juliet is treading the boards in Rhyl, north Wales from Friday until the first week in January in panto Peter Pan.

That means festive plans have to be squeezed in.

“We have a Boxing Day matinee, so I can’t really be far away,” Juliet told iN10.

“My son, Shane, will be coming to join me, which is lovely as he’s been away in Australia and Alaska for the past year. I’ve missed him hugely.

“He came down to help me get settled for the panto run and I’m staying in a very nice static caravan.

“I don’t know whether we’ll go out for dinner, meet up with the cast or take up the offer from my niece to go to her place in Exeter.

“It all depends on the weather. You can’t go far as you daren’t miss the show.”

Juliet’s husband David MacLennan, writer, director and co-founder of the 7:84 Theatre Company, died of motor neurone disease in the summer of 2014.

Keeping occupied, like the fun panto run, has proved to be a real tonic for Juliet.

“My worst times have been when I’ve not had very much on,” confides Juliet.

“Work has been good. It’s been an absolute godsend. The more you work, the more you’re diverted and your mind is occupied. It’s helped hugely.”

Juliet joined River City recently as Suzie Fraser, mum of Shieldinch favourite Robbie, played by Gary Lamont.

Despite her wealth of TV, stage and big screen experience, Juliet admits she still felt the butterflies as she arrived for her first day.

“I still get so, so nervous. I think maybe the day the nerves dry up are when you should give it up.

“I was so aware that everyone knew each other, and knew the routine so well, and you’re coming into that.

“But everyone was really welcoming and Gary was lovely.

“I’ve already been round for cocktails in his new flat.”

Suzie’s husband has left her and this week sees her delve into the world of online dating, which doesn’t pan out as she hoped.

“I’m waiting in the Candle Room for my date to arrive and it turns out to be Bob,” explains Juliet.

“We both have a shock when we see each other. He says I’m a bit more mature than my photograph – and I tell him he’s about two feet shorter!

“Once they get over the hurdle of not being suitable, though, they start talking and get on very well.”

Being “stuck in pantoland”, as she cheerfully calls it, is something Juliet is well used to.

She recalls her earliest days at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh, learning under the tutelage of the late, great Stanley Baxter.

“I did about five pantos with Stanley and they were wonderful times.

“He was extremely professional and he didn’t like any messing around. If you weren’t in a scene then you weren’t to linger in the wings with any nonsense going on.

“But he had a fabulous sense of humour and I loved his stories.

“Once a week he’d take us out to a restaurant and regale us with wonderful tales of people he’d worked with.”

Juliet is actually billed as “Edie McCredie from Balamory” on the panto posters. And she says the fondly-remembered BBC children’s series still gets her noticed more than a decade after it finished back in 2005.

“People stop me and tell me how their wee boy or girl are excited to meet me,” adds Juliet.

“It’s extraordinary the power it still has. It was a phenomenon and I loved my time on it.

“They were such happy days up in Tobermory and the cast got on so well.

“It was sad when it came to an end but we’d all formed close friendships and we still keep in touch now.”

River City, BBC1 Scotland, Tues, 8pm

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