SUE ‘SO GRATEFUL’

ONLY Fools And Horses star Sue Holderness says she would have kept on playing Marlene on her Zimmer frame.

And she is thrilled when fans call out the character’s name.

Sue, 71, has “Marlene” shouted at her in the street by people who loved her Only Fools role as wife to Boycie, who is Del Boy Trotter’s pal.

She said: “It does still happen and I absolutely love it. I’ll be eternally grateful to [show writer] John Sullivan, because that part changed my life.

“I’ve been able to go into lots of theatres playing parts I’ve longed to play, because I don’t mind being billed as Sue ‘Marlene’ Holderness.

“Her and Boycie’s infertility story touched so many hearts. I got a lot of mail from people sympathising with her.”

She, who has joined EastEnders as theatrical agent Estelle, continued: “I would love to have played Marlene until I was staggering around on my Zimmer frame. I simply loved her, and can’t get over the fact that I was lucky enough to get that part.

“With Marlene, it wasn’t until series four that she went in, although she had been talked about a lot.”

“She had a reputation for being the Peckham bicycle, and clearly had a romp with Del.” Meanwhile, her EastEnders character has her eye on Billy Mitchell as a toyboy.

Sue added: “I hope Only Fools And Horses fans won’t be disappointed with Estelle – she isn’t like Marlene at all. “She is a rather smarmy agent and represents Janet Mitchell, who is about to do her first modelling job. “Billy brings Janet along, and Estelle fancies him – she is a very flirty girl. I think Billy needs to have some fun.”

NEW ROLE: Sue Holderness