They were stars of their generation without any help from Simon Cowell: a working class choir made up of 1920s schoolchildren who recorded a national hit.

Now, more than 80 years later, queen of comedy Victoria Wood is resurrecting the legend of the Manchester Children’s Choir in a brand new play which she has written and directed.

The Bury-born actress may have created and starred in countless TV shows, including the smash hit Dinner Ladies, but the modest comedian feels the pressure of the grandeur of this project.

“It’s a massive story to tell,” said a softly-spoken Victoria, who once beat the Queen Mother to win a poll of People You'd Most Like To Live Next Door To.

In real life she’s a much more reserved version of the Victoria we know.

And it’s clear her hard work behind the scenes is far greater than anything the public is privy to.

“I’m not really very loud, I’m normal when you meet me and I get nervous like anyone else,” revealed Victoria, who handpicked 100 children to form two choirs for the play.

“I see we’ve got a mountain to climb, a big cast (12 actors and two choirs of 50) and not a huge amount of time.

“I just need to get through the next three weeks,” she joked affably.

“I like working against the clock, though. It’s part of the buzz.

"For me directing is a bigger challenge than acting, I don’t miss being the one in the spotlight.

“But as far as first night nerves go I think it’s almost worse when you’re directing because you take on everyone else’s nerves too,” she added in her trademark Lancashire accent.

Victoria has written and directed The Day We Sang as part of the Manchester International Festival, which runs for three weeks from Thursday.

The play is a centrepiece of the festival which is now a highlight on the international arts scene since it was first held in 2007.

Featuring 100 school children aged seven to 11, the play will focus on four of the singers, now middle-aged, reminiscing about their taste of fame when they recorded a version of Purcell’s Nymphs and Shepherds in the 1920s.

“It’s set in 1929 and 1969,” she explained.

“Initially it’s based on the recording of the school choir when 150 children stood in the Free Trade Hall, but it’s also about two middle aged people who sung in that choir and are reunited a generation on.

"It’s the forge between two time periods.

“What’s funny is the entire thing is based on a false memory of mine.

"I thought I’d watched a documentary on the choir about 20 years ago when I was still living in Lancashire, but when we’ve tracked it down it’s nothing like I remember.

"But it gave me the idea at least,” she added.

Victoria, who now lives in London, remains a proud northerner and is enjoying every minute being back up north for the festival.

“I am always glad to be back,” she said. “If you’re northern you’re northern.

"A lot of my friends in London are northerners. I didn’t make a conscious effort to keep my accent.

"It’s a difficult one to shift, but I have never wanted to get rid of it, I really like it.

"I hate it when people take the mickey out of it. I think it’s so rude.

"I love having an accent that links me to being from a place.

“I am proud of my roots. I think Lancashire’s great.

"They have a great attitude, it’s a great place for comedians.

"There are so many top comedians from the area. I suppose it’s because we have a sense of humour from around here,” she smiled.

Victoria is part of a packed festival line-up across many of Manchester’s leading venues, including performances fromrapper Snoop Dog, Icelandic singer Bjork, Sinead O’Connor, a new show from Johnny Vegas and a show written and starring Blur frontman Damon Albarn.

Albert Square, outside the Town Hall, will be transformed into Festival Square for the duration of the event.

* The Day We Sang is at Manchester Opera House from July 6 - July 16. Tickets 0844 847 2277. For the full festival line-up from June 30 until July 17, and ticket details, visit www.mif.co.uk.