THE nation’s favourite comedy housewife, Barbara Nice, will be spreading some pre-Christmas cheer with a series of special shows across the North West.

Barbara Nice’s Christmas Cracker will come to Clitheroe Grand next Friday and then the Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester on December 16.

Janice Connolly, the creator of the Brummie mum of five, said: “It’s a great way to kick off Christmas with a smile.

“I’ve done this show with Barbara in Birmingham for the last three years and now it’s expanding. It is a show which has proved really popular and it’s a bit of a marriage between a scripted show and being improvised.

“The audience themselves do bring their own personality to each show too.”

Barbara’s cheery outlook on life and her own innate silliness have seen her gain an ever-growing set of fans.

“Barbara looks at the joy of daily life and the daft things that we do,” said Janice. “The show is very celebratory. A lot of people come away from the show feeling a lot better, particularly at this time of year, which can get a bit stressful.”

It is Barbara’s ordinariness which is one of the key parts of her appeal.

“A lot of people come up and say ‘she’s just like my auntie’ or ‘I’ve a neighbour like Barbara’,” said Janice.

“She does behave like your mum at a wedding. But everyone knows someone like Barbara.”

For the live shows Barbara will be supported by some rising stars on the comedy circuit. At the Grand, Simon Lomas will be part of the show and at the Dancehouse, Briain’s Got Talent’s Lorraine Bowen and Harriet Dwyer will be taking part.

Also at the Clitheroe show there will be a house band made up of staff from the venue.

“That’s going to be really fun,” said Janice. “I can’t wait to see what they are like.”

It’s not just as a live act that Barbara’s making a name for herself. She’s also a radio star with her own show on Radio Two.

“That’s going really well,” said Janice. “Because Barbara is so physical, one of the challenges was how to get that physicality on the radio. Obviously the imagination of the audience plays a big part and they can fill in the gaps but she does get up to all sorts of antics.

“There are some quite physical gags which have worked. Barbara even stage dives on the radio!

“I haven’t heard that recording yet, so will be really interested to hear that back.

“The great thing about radio is that it allows you to get into listeners’ minds. It’s a great art form - there are no boundaries.”

But it’s the Christmas shows which are now getting Janice’s full attention.

“I’m really looking forward to Clitheroe,” she said. “I did a show there a while ago and had such a good laugh and they were such good fun. They said say ‘please come back’ so it will be great to work with them.

“The show is basically Barbara: the Christmas mix. It’s fun and it’s life affirming and it’s also seasonal. It’s essential Barbara with added tinsel and trimmings so come out, enjoy yourself and have a laugh.”

Barbara Nice’s Christmas Cracker, Clitheroe Grand, Friday, December 2 (01200 421599) and the Dancehouse, Manchester, Friday, December 16 (0161 237 9753)