The Hour

The film and stage versions of The Calendar Girls are based on an uplifting and very inspiring true story that is quirky, poignant and hilarious. A group of WI women from Yorkshire persuade each other to raise money for charity by posing for a calendar with a difference. The calendar snowballs and becomes a global phenomenon.

The WI women’s fundraising was originally inspired by the death of John Richard Baker, who died from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1998. During his illness his wife Angela’s friends, who were members of the WI, began raising money for the hospital where John was treated. They never realised how big their original calendar would become.

British actor Joe McGann, best known for playing Charlie Burrows in TV show The Upper Hand, is starring as John in the stage version of the story.

"I’m out of the show fairly early on but it’s a great part to play because he’s a man who was loved by these women, and he loved women and used to take the mickey out of them,” said Joe.

“It’s a great part. They always say take the parts where they will still talk about you when you’re off stage, and the whole play’s about this one guy. It’s got everything in it, it’s got laughter, tears and music and when it goes well it’s hard not to cry on stage because you believe in all the characters.”

Jennifer Ellison, best known for her role as Emily Shadwick in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, plays Celia. The actress had to strip naked for The Calendar Girls publicity shoot just weeks after giving birth, which wasn’t an inviting prospect after she had gained three and a half stone during her pregnancy.

“The other cast members got to do their pictures as a group shot so they had a bit of moral support but I was on my own as I couldn’t make the group shots – they were done just days after I had my baby,” said Jennifer.

“The producers want everyone to be comfortable so it’s not too in your face. It’s really tastefully done.”

The Calendar Girls will be showing at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow from August 16-28.

Read a review of the show

Elaine C. Smith talks about her role in Calendar Girls