Having a Ball with star who became a pal

IN 2011, Victoria met Michael Ball after his performance in the musical Sweeney Todd.

In his dressing room, the singer Jane McDonald also happened to pay a visit.

A decade earlier, Victoria had transformed herself into monstrous Stacey Leanne Paige for a sketch, based on Jane. Victoria concealed herself in an adjoining room, where she overheard a speech she may as well have written for Stacey. “What can I tell you?” McDonald told Ball. “You were marvellous! You are like me – you gerrit.”

Ball says: “That would be our catchphrase together. We just clicked.”