'At Last I'm A Grandmother, And I Love It!'

- Pam Francis

On Christmas Day, Alison Steadman is looking forward to holding the special present she has dreamed about for so many years: her four month-old grandson Freddy.

‘I can’t think of a better gift. At last I’m a grandmother, and I love it, love it, love it!,’ says the 71-year-old star. After 50 years of playing memorable characters – from outrageous Beverly in Abigail’s Party to excitable house-proud Essex mum Pam in Gavin & Stacey – Alison is enjoying every moment of the real-life role.

‘I cried with happiness when I first held him. I’m besotted. I just say to people, “I’m going to bore you now” as I show them pictures. I don’t care!

‘I was beginning to think my sons were so career-minded and busy that it wasn’t going to happen,’ says Alison, mother to Toby, 39, an illustrator, and Leo, 36, a film-maker from her former marriage to director Mike Leigh.

‘Having a grandchild is something I longed for. But of course you never want to put pressure on your children. Now that it’s happened, it’s an absolute dream.’

Living in London with her long-time partner Michael Elwyn, Alison is a great planner when it comes to the festive season. ‘I shall be out and about looking for small things for my boys. They still have a stocking, even though they are in their 30s! For decorations, I have a collection of cones I arrange in our flat with candles and a real tree.