COVER Sherrie Hewson on why we need laughter right now
For much-loved actress and TV presenter Sherrie Hewson, laughter can lighten the load in even the darkest of times
We never really thought we’d hear ourselves saying it but thank goodness for social media! It is enabling many people to stay in touch with loved ones – and actually speak to them faceto-face in the process – during these very strange days of self-isolation. It’s also technology that’s making it possible for Sherrie Hewson and three of her gal pals – fellow actresses Debbie Arnold, Harriet Thorpe and Dee Anderson – to broadcast Wonderbirds live on Youtube at 4.30pm, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
“It’s a new afternoon show going out on the internet,” says Sherrie as she chats to us from her home near Manchester. “While we do talk about serious stuff – our worries and fears about the current situation – we also have such a laugh. Humour and the power of laughter is so important in times of crisis – if you didn’t laugh you’d go mad or drink yourself into a stupor. We had such a giggle the other day about the fact that I always keep two pairs of glasses close at hand. Actually, not strictly at hand. I keep one pair in my bra and the other down my knickers so I always know where they are! Problem is, I have been known to forget about the ones in my knickers so when I sit down, I break them. Daft things like this lift the spirits. We also chat about things like how fat we’ll be due to comfort eating when all
‘We need to connect with each other, especially when it’s not possible for us to meet up in person’
this is over and what on earth we’re going to do about our retouching our roots when there are no hairdressers open. It’s a bit frivolous, yes, but the old saying ‘you have to laugh’ has never rang more true.”
Sherrie, who has long been making us laugh with TV shows such as Benidorm, and her friends decided to set up Wonderbirds when, in light of the lockdown, they found themselves meeting up – ‘virtually’ – every day in order to have a cuppa and a catch-up.
“Talking about all the people in selfisolation, we thought how great it would be for them to join us and join in via Youtube,” she explains. “The first day we went live we received 30,000 views and that’s now jumped to 1 million. People need people. We need to connect with each other – especially when it’s not possible to meet up in person. In addition to the lighter, more upbeat stuff we need to share our worries, comfort and advice.”
How is Sherrie doing in herself?
“Not great all the time, to be honest,” she admits. “My family are absolutely everything to me yet I haven’t been able to see my two granddaughters aged nine years and nine months, my 13-year-old grandson, and my darling daughter Keeley. We’re in touch all the time but it’s really hard not being able to cuddle and kiss them.
“Also, my brother is in hospital with a brain tumour. I call him every other day but he is very ill and I don’t know if he’ll come out of this. I’m also worried about work – all the stuff I had in place has been cancelled. Who knows if I’ll work at all over the next six months? I went through a stage a few weeks back of crying all the time but then I told myself to pull myself together. It’s awful for everyone, isn’t it? There are people so much worse off than me. At least I have a roof over my head and a garden I can sit in.
“I also feel OK healthwise. But we’re all at a loss because, apart from the fear and worry, nothing like this has ever happened to any of us before. It’s rather like finding yourself in the middle of a zombie film.”
But Sherrie does feel that there are some positive aspects to the situation, though.
‘I hope the care and kindness we’ve been showing towards each other will remain when all this is over’
“You hear about China now having the cleanest air it’s had for generations,” she muses. “It’s the same in other parts of the world. The rate we were going and the speed at which we were living, we were destroying the planet. We need to take care of the world and our fellow human beings. I hope the care and kindness we’ve been showing will remain. I also hope that we continue to respect and value the NHS and other key workers. The government must not go back to taking them for granted and cutting their wages and resources.”
Sherrie (69) says she has a special message for Yours’ readers. “I love Yours magazine and all it stands for and just want to say, ‘We’re all in this together’. If you can, watch Wonderbirds; laugh along and send us messages – it doesn’t matter how silly they are. Just hang on in there because this worrying time will pass. That’s one thing we do know.”
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To tune into Wonderbirds, go to youtube.com and search ‘Wonderbirds’