ON SET WITH...

Rebecca Front

Rebecca, 48, plays a psychiatrist who talks to famous women from the past – including and Beatrix Judy Garland, Mary Whitehouse Playhouse Potter – in one-off comedy on Sky Arts 1. Presents... Psychobitches Here she takes us behind the scenes...

7 MONDAY

It’s rehearsals today and I’m glad I’m getting my laughing at the script out of the way. Or at least I hope I am! It wouldn’t be very professional to suddenly start giggling when we’re filming, although it could be touch and go with some of the women who are going to be performing with me. Samantha Spiro, who I know well from Grandma’s House, is perfectly capable of making me chuckle when I shouldn’t. She’s very funny, and I need to keep a straight face as the impassive, neutral and ultra- professional psychiatrist!

8 TUESDAY

We arrive for our first day of filming at a beautiful townhouse in Roehampton, south west London. We all say, ‘Wow!’ in unison when we enter because it’s so elegant and peaceful. And so appropriately situated too. We’re right next door to rehab centre the Priory, and some of the women we feature in Psychobitches would probably have benefited from a stay there. As we film some of the first scenes I try to look impassive, but when Selina Griffiths starts making the most extraordinary animal noises as Beatrix Potter I can feel my eyebrows shooting skywards.

9 WEDNESDAY

Today’s scenes feature Samantha as the conservative social campaigner Mary Whitehouse (right), complete with a perm, sky blue jacket, trademark glasses... and a surprising interest in risqué art! I struggle to suppress a giggle as she reveals an interest in drawings of naked young men.

10 THURSDAY

We have a special guest on set today – a monkey. It’s the companion of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, played by Sharon Horgan, and it behaves impeccably. Sharon has bonded with the creature and so too, I suspect, would my ten-year-old daughter Tilly. I send her a picture of him from my mobile and she texts back, ‘Bring him home!’ With all the distraction, I’m grateful for the clipboard on my knee. I’ve written some words on it which I’ve been struggling with. I’d feel terribly guilty if I let the side down by not remembering my few lines between the others’ monologues.

11 FRIDAY

The shoot’s almost finished but I’m still stunned by the way in which the actresses are turned into the famous women they’re supposed to be playing. Nobody surprises me more than Samantha when she arrives on set as Judy Garland. I knew about Samantha’s singing ability from seeing her perform on stage in musicals, but now she looks exactly like Judy. The physical transformation is remarkable – the dark wig, the make-up, the clothes... hats off to the make-up and costume departments for pulling off such an incredible result!

Psychobitches, Thursday, 9pm, Sky Arts 1.