Actress Letitia Dean was inspired by the Rylstone and District Women’s Institute, near Skipton, for her latest role.

The former EastEnders star is in Calendar Girls, the play based on the WI ladies who famously stripped off for a nude calendar, raising £3 million for Leukaemia Research.

Written by Tim Firth, who wrote the Calendar Girls movie starring Julie Walters and Helen Mirren, the play is touring following a smash hit West End run. It runs at the Leeds Grand from Monday, March 8 to Saturday, March 13, and also stars Lynda Bellingham, Hannah Waterman and Gemma Atkinson.

Letitia plays vicar’s daughter and church organist Cora, and reveals she had to learn to play the piano for the role.

“That was more daunting than stripping off!” she said. “It’s a lovely show to be involved with, and it helps that we’ve all become great friends. Lynda Bellingham was in the original production so she guided us initially in the stripping scenes.

“Going nude was an amazing thing for the WI to do. They were just ordinary women trying to raise enough to buy a sofa for their local hospital. I find their story incredibly inspiring. My parents are from Yorkshire so it’s great for me to be here in a show that has its roots here.”

Letitia played Sharon Watts in EastEnders for more than ten years and has made regular appearances in Albert Square over the years.

“I have great affection for the show,” she said.

“I was 16 when I started and hadn’t had much TV experience. Producer Julia Smith let me grow into the role.”

While Letitia is in Yorkshire with Calendar Girls she plans to visit the EastEnders 25: The Exhibition at the National Media Museum which celebrates the BBC soap’s 25th anniversary.

“It sounds like quite a journey down memory lane. I’d love to come along and be reacquainted with some ‘old faces’,” said Letitia.