MY TV LIFE
Debbie, 65, is an actress and voice artist best known for playing April Branning in Eastenders.
What was your first TV memory?
It was November 1963, the death of JFK and the birth of Doctor Who. The news of Kennedy’s assassination broke a day late here – I had to ask my grandpa what assassination meant – and when the news ended, the first-ever episode of Doctor Who started. After that I remember The Addams Family and Bewitched. I met Elizabeth Montgomery in LA once. I said “Can I hold your hand, I love you?” And she let me. She was so lovely and gracious.
Who was your first TV crush?
I had loads of them, starting with the Monkees, Davy Jones and all that lot.
What was your first TV appearance?
In Who Do You Do? It was an ITV comedy impressions show with Little & Large, Freddie Starr, Russ Abbot, Faith Brown. I was a secretary at a record company when comedian Johnny Moore came in doing funny voices. I matched him and he invited me to meet the producer. I never thought funny voices could be a career. I still make money from voiceovers.
What is your favourite current show?
Perry Mason on Sky Atlantic has been incredible, Matthew Rhys is wonderful as Perry. I love Call My Agent too, a brilliant Netflix comedy. I watch a lot of Netflix.
Which TV show would you take to a desert island?
Easy! 24. It was fantastic to watch. The real-time plot gave it urgency and Jack Bauer was amazing, although I met Keifer Sutherland in a club and he’s so small... nothing like Jack!
What TV show would you like to put out of its misery?
Weird comedies that aren’t funny. Our sitcoms used to be superb but in the 90s, alternative comedy started to edge them out. I’d bring back the traditional sitcoms.
Guiltiest TV pleasure?
Catfish: The TV Show on MTV is my guilty pleasure. It’s awful but I love it.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’m doing Wonderbirds, an online TV show with Sherrie Hewson, Harriet Thorpe and Dee Anderson. We started on the eve of lockdown. It’s like a kinder version of Loose Women, just us talking but it’s so funny. We get great guests.
Wonderbirds is live on Youtube, Facebook and at amazingwonderbirds.com each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4.30pm