To say that Jayne Bickerton’s career – as an actress, comic, writer, musician and artist – is varied would be something of an understatement.

As well as touring in plays, appearing in Coronation Street and other TV dramas and sitcoms, she writes scripts and holds her own in the male-dominated arena of stand-up comedy.

Jayne, a former T&A columnist, started out performing on the James Whale Radio Show and, as alter ego Mary Unfaithful, went on to support comics such as Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay. This year she returned to stand-up, and plans more gigs in the district after panto this Christmas.

Jayne is playing the Fairy in Dick Whittington at Stockport Plaza, from December 6 to January 5.

“You could say I’m the ‘Cottingley Fairy’, as that’s where I grew up,” she smiles.

“I always went to the Alhambra panto as a child, it’s great to be part of all that. We only get ten days’ rehearsal and it’s two shows a day - not quite working down the mine but it’s full on. It’ll be fun though. Paul O’Grady is sending me some of Lily Savage’s jewellery to wear!”

Jayne is selling her own jewellery – called Splendid Emporium, which she has designs and makes – at Haworth’s Steampunk Weekend tomorrow and Sunday. “I’ll be at the community centre on Butt Lane, wearing Victorian costume – any excuse!” she says.

With a degree in art and design from Bradford College, Jayne is an accomplished artist and her work includes pop art-style paintings of Coronation Street characters.

Her images of characters such as Hilda Ogden, Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples have been exhibited in Manchester, winning praise from cast members and Street creator Tony Warren. “That was a great honour,” says Jayne, who has worked with schools and community groups on art projects.

As a lifelong Corrie fan, she says joining the cast was a “dream come true”. Her first appearance was in 2002, as a florist, and later she played Cilla Battersby’s colourful pal Yana Lumb, who worked in the chippie in fishnets and mini skirts. In the new year Jayne will be joining another soap, in a role specially written for her. “I’m not allowed to say which one yet,” she says.

Having returned to the comedy circuit as Mary Unfaithful, she’s keen to do more stand-up gigs.

“I feel like I’m going to be hung before I go on stage, but once I’m there and the adrenaline has kicked in it’s a great buzz.”

Jayne is also a scriptwriter, having written for Corrie, and her husband, Mark Bickerton, is series story producer at Emmerdale and was involved in the recent dramatic culmination to the Cameron/Debbie/Chas storyline. The couple live in Calverley.

“I was an extra in Emmerdale when it was filmed in Esholt,” says Jayne. “I still believe in it when I watch it.”

When she’s not treading the boards or playing her ukelele, Jayne is busy writing a sitcom. “Well, I will be when I find it – we lost it in the house move!” she says. “It’s based on a job I used to do.”

Watch this space...

For more about Jayne, visit jaynebickertoncreations.com.