‘She’s so feisty and so manipulative’

Actress Michele Dotrice says it makes a refreshing change to play villain Imelda Hansen in period drama The Hardacres

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They are sworn enemies in hit period drama The Hardacres, but in real life Michele Dotrice and Julie Graham have become the best of friends.

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave 'Em actress Michele plays Lady Imelda Hansen in series two of the rags-to-riches saga, a manipulative matriarch who is determined to protect the sanctity of the aristocracy from the threat of crude new money.

In contrast, This City Is Ours star Julie Graham’s character, Ma Hardacres, is wily, rebellious and resolutely working class.

“I adore Julie,” says Michele, 77. “She's the nicest. She’s my kind of girl.”

The pair even gave each other nicknames on set, poking fun at their characters’ lack of good humour.

“It was quite funny, when we were shooting, somebody took a photo of us with Julie sort of growling at the camera and me glaring, which was basically what our characters did all the time,” laughs Michele. “So we called ourselves Glare and Moan. I was Glare and she was Moan. Ever since, on WhatsApp, we've called each other Glare and Moan.”

In this week's series finale, Mary, played by Claire Cooper, discovers that Ma has made a bet with Lady Imelda that could cost them their home. When Mary begs Lady Imelda for compassion, the dowager’s true colours are revealed.