Following in the footsteps of Gracie Fields and Joan Hickson is daunting enough, but taking on the iconic role of Miss Marple, the role you have dreamed about, would be too much for many actresses, but not Judy Cornwell, seasoned veteran of stage and screen.

A Murder Is Announced, the Agatha Christie classic crime novel, is being brought to life at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre this month, with Judy as the perceptive, sharp witted, little old lady.

The 76-year-old actress has always been in demand appearing in Santa Claus; The Movie as Mrs Claus, the film Mad Cows, the TV series Bergerac, Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders, The Bill, Heartbeat and as Queenie Trott in EastEnders.

Perhaps her most recognisable role is as Daisy in the sit com Keeping Up Appearances.

It is not the first time that Judy has appeared in A Murder Is Announced, she worked with Joan Hickson on the televised version and played Dora Bunner in a radio version.

The novel was first published in 1950 and the first stage production starred Gracie Fields in 1956, at The Goodyear Playhouse.

It became a feature film in 1985 when Joan Hickson played the quaint elderly lady with razor sharp perception, and then in 2005 Geraldine McEwan stepped in to the sensible, low-heeled Miss Marple shoes.

Starring alongside Judy in this current production are three actors who all have appeared in the daily TV drama Doctors.

Diane Fletcher who starred as Elizabeth Urquharat in House of Cards, Midsomer Murders, Coronation Street, Inspector Morse, Breathless, Heartbeat, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Doctors is the other female lead in the whodunnit.

Tom Butcher who is is best known as PC Steve Loxton in The Bill also starred as Dr Marc Elliott in Doctors, and coincidently is married to another former Doctors' actress, Corrinne Wicks.

Rachel Bright also appeared in the medical drama but is better recognised for her role as Poppy Meadows in EastEnders. She was brought in to add some comedy to the soap.

The play is set in a sleepy, quintessentially English village. The drama begins with an advertisement in the local paper announcing a murder at Little Paddocks, but no-one seems to knows anything about it. All the neighbours find excuses to drop in and the fun begins...

The thriller runs from Tuesday April 12 to Saturday April 16 at 7.30pm, in the Wyvern Theatre when Miss Marple tries to unravel a complex series of relationships and events to solve the mystery of the killer. Tickets are £18.50 - £29.50* from 01793 524481 - Flicky Harrison