A CHESHIRE actress is starring in the comedy drama All About George , which hit our TV screens last week.

Julia Ford, who grew up in Sutton Weaver, is playing Annie Kinsey, Rik Mayall's wife in the show.

She has also had major roles in ITV's Island At War, Birthday Girl with Sarah Lancashire and appeared in other well-known programmes such as Midsomer Murders, Silent Witness, Peak Practice and Heartbeat.

Julia, 42, has also appeared on stage in The Crucible at the Royal National Theatre and in The Weir the Royal Court Theatre.

Although Julia now lives in London, she went to Aston Church of England School just outside Frodsham and Helsby Grammar School.

All About George is a six-part comedy drama series for ITV1 from Cold Feet and Life Begins writer Mike Bullen.

Julia says she is very similar to her character in the show: 'My character thinks about the same things I think about so I can definitely relate to her.

'When there are family arguments, she tries to sort things out fairly in the same way I hope I would.

'Annie and I have a similar sense of humour, too.

She is just really content with her family life.

'The relationship between her and George just kind of works among all the madness really.'

Julia says working with Young Ones and Bottom star Mayall has been fun.

'We had such fun filming,' she said. 'I was a bit nervous when I first met Rik but it's been lovely getting to know him. He is very funny and off-the-wall and has his own way of doing things.'

Julia is contracted to the show for three years depending on the success of the first series.

She believes it will be a big hit with the viewers, saying: 'I just loved the scripts. I think the series is brilliant in the sense that it's about such ordinary things and that everyone can relate to it. I prefer the little dramas in daily life than the great big dramatic things.

'I just find it amazing when we are all in the same scenes together too, from Edna Dore's character, Lily, who is in her early 80s, right down to the babies. We have every generation involved in the storylines.'

All About George can be seen on Thursdays at 9pm on ITV1.