SHE is outrageous, raucous, causes havoc and drinks far too much gin. That’s Lilian Bellamy, from the world’s longest running radio soap show The Archers. She considers getting drunk with Eddie in the cider shed one of her favourite moments in her life.

But what about Sunny Ormonde – the woman that plays her?

The talented and seasoned radio actress is bringing her 16 years of experience on The Archers to Bridport Arts Centre for An Evening with Sunny Ormonde tomorrow night, but that’s not the only character she’ll be bringing.

From poems to Shirley Valentine performances, Sunny said she’s ready to give the audience a night to remember. Jessica Rees caught up with the actress to find out more about the evening ahead of the show.

Sunny said: “Only part of it is a conversation. It’s actually a show too, with a little bit of Lilian and showing the audience about me too and what I have done and diverse things that have been important to me in my life.”

For example, Sunny said: “I do a bit of Shirley Valentine who is important to me and my life.”

Playing Shirley Valentine has been one of Sunny’s favourite roles over the years and a woman she feels a great connection to. Her television credits include Grange Hill, Brookside and Casualty.

The star trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and speaking with Sunny, it’s clear she was born for the limelight.

You instantly warm to her. She exudes charisma and her friendliness bodes well for a one woman show.

Sunny said: “There’s a bit of stand up as well, as Lilian is so outrageous and I also read a poem about her. I always give an Archers present for the best question too.”

She’ll be sharing lots of funny little anecdotes and experiences from the show, and about times famous faces have come to visit the soap opera, like the late Victoria Wood.

Sunny said: “There’s lots of lovely stories about her.

“I call it a pot-pourri of an evening. I talk about me and where I come from and extracts. I’m a northern lady, an American at one point – all sorts. You don’t have to be an Archers listener to come to the show – the show is entertaining for everyone.”

Though the evening does serve as a bit of a carrot for those who don’t already listen to The Archers. It’s a rare opportunity to catch Sunny as Lilian on stage. Usually in the studio recording, Lilian is a notoriously outrageous character full of beans – and lots of gin.

She came on the scene in the show to give the village a good shake up with her drinking and hard partying ways. And walking in with her stilettos, Lilian/Sunny, at this point we’re confused which is the real life woman, has just done that.

So just how does Sunny portray such a character so well just purely through her voice?

“It’s technique. Of course, my character Lilian is a physically flamboyant character. That’s one of the reasons that my laugh developed which is a bit of a statement – and something about her that suggested this smoking, drinking wench!

“She’s got quite a raucous laugh and it suggests there’s been a life there.”

Sunny said: “The laugh creates a mental image. I’m always looking for ways to portray her.

“When I got onto the show I asked always if I could wear stilettos to suggest the physicality of Lilian when you hear them on the radio.”

With The Archers a hot topic on everyone’s minds with the hugely debated abusive storyline of Helen and Rob, Sunny said she feels humbled to be part of such a successful show.

She said: “I’m very proud of this particular storyline. It’s been handled and played beautifully.

“Tim, who plays Rob, is the most kind, lovely man and the most clever actor.”

Sunny said the audience are always fascinated to find out how the programme is made, and fans of the show always have mixed reactions to meeting her.

She said: “Some people say I sound exactly like her and some say ‘gosh, you don’t sound like her at all’.”

The cast have to work hard to produce four episodes each time they meet. The evening gives a glimpse into things Archers listeners will never have thought about before.

Sunny said: “It really is fascinating. We don’t have scripts that we learn. We have to be able to list the words straight off the page.” Sunny said there’s even a way of turning the pages quietly so it isn’t picked up on the microphone.

Having performed in Lyme Regis before, Sunny’s excited to return to Dorset for the evening. She said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back and to the Arts Centre.”

Don’t miss the evening for what’s set to be nothing but the Sunny side of Lilian, and the bright side of Sunny.

n An Evening with Sunny Ormonde at Bridport Arts Centre tomorrow night, September 23 at 7.30pm.