WHEN Swindon’s Alice Baker first heard Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas, little did she know she would one day fulfill the song’s premise – with Julian Clary behind the wheel.

But the 19-year-old, who is starring opposite Clary in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s Cinderella pantomime, bagged a lift home after their evening performance on Christmas Eve.

The comedian’s parents live in Swindon so he was making the trip to Wiltshire anyway.

And the former Lethbridge Primary and Commonweal School pupil was also given a lift back to the West Midlands on Boxing Day for their return to the stage.

“I was very lucky to have him drive me back on Christmas Eve. It was quite an experience,” she said.

“I was a bit nervous, but he’s just a genuine guy and really nice to talk to. It was really lovely.”

The Swindon teenager, whose parents live in Croft Road, studies at the Performance Prep- aration Academy in Guildford.

Her run as Cinderella in Wolverhampton, her second leading role as the fairytale favourite in as many years, began on December 6 and will end on January 18.

The six-week spell of shows has produced 10-hour days for Alice and her fellow cast members, but she has been pleased with her own stamina and improved performances from last year.

“It’s going absolutely wonderfully, I’m so happy with the run so far, I’m having such a good time,” she said.

“It’s a lovely cast and we’re all getting on well.

“Because panto relies on audience participation, naturally every show is very different and since starting the run a number of things have changed.”

With the end of her studies at PPA in sight this summer, Alice will attempt to find herself an agent and first job.