Sally Lindsay

I talk to: Sally Lindsay

Sky 1's hit comedy drama Mount Pleasant is returning for a sixth series, and whilst it's very much an ensemble piece, Sally Lindsay has been there from the beginning and involved in some brilliant storylines, so I caught up with her for a chat.

The new series of Mount Pleasant starts tonight and, although it's new, it'll give you a weird sense of deja vu. You'll constantly be thinking you've seen it before, and asking where the nagging sense of familiarity comes from. It's probably because all of the cast have appeared in other soaps. There's Sally Lindsay, also known as Shelley from Coronation Street. There's Samantha Womack who played Ronnie in EastEnders and also her old co-star Nigel Harman, who was Dennis Rickman, plus Paula Wilcox from Emmerdale and several other recognisable faces.

Perhaps Mount Pleasant is where the soap actors go whenever work dries up. Being in its fifth series it certainly sounds like a nice, steady source of employment for them.

The show is set in a quiet Manchester cul-de-sac and describes itself as "dramedy", which isn't a camel but a melding of drama and comedy.

In this episode, the main characters, Lisa and Dan, are having marriage problems, which are exacerbated by the arrival of some new neighbours.

Sally Lindsay and Daniel Ryan interview

Earlier this year, I visited the set of Mount Pleasant in Manchester to find out what's in store as the show enters its fifth series. Here's what Sally Lindsay and Dan Ryan had to say...

Fishbowl cast interview

Katherine Rose Morley, Mark Benton, Sally Lindsay and Michael Smiley talk about being in the pilot episode of Fishbowl.

Women are either dizzy or gutsy in Mount Pleasant and Lisa (Sally Lindsay) falls into the second category, which is unfortunate for Fergus, who'' trying to cover up his work blunders and hang on to new employee Angie. Over at the house, mysterious Tanya (Samantha Womack) and Bradley (Nigel Harman) finally reveal why they're on the run after Greg realises they're in danger. That's the drama covered, so in the comedy corner, Bobby Ball leads the charge at a car boot sale. Great cast, great comfort telly.

Mount Pleasant is back

Sally Lindsay is thrilled to be back for a fourth series and says Bobby Ball is more than happy to get stuck into the nappy changing and bottle making.

The trouble with Mount Pleasant (Sky Living) is that it's exactly that: pleasant. This curious hybrid of soap opera and sitcom - the entire cast consists of that's so-and-so from so-and-so - is into its third series but I'm blowed if I can put my finger on what it's about, other than a bunch of not-that-interesting people who live, physically and emotionally, in a Northern cul-de-sac.

Main character Lisa (Sally Lindsay, reprising her turn as barmaid Shelley in Corrie) spends most of her time talking hubby Dan out of trying to get her pregnant and, in turn, his entire purpose seems to be whipping the duvet down and demanding 'get in, now!' She usually doesn't.

At least there's a story there, a couple at odds with what they want out of their relationship and failing to talk about it. Everyone else seems to exist in a drama-free void, conversations entirely based on who they used to be with/who they're with now/who they want to be with. This isn't drama, it's more like a gossip down the bus stop.

EastEnders favourites Samantha Womack and Nigel Harman swap Albert Square for a cul-de-sac up north in the third series of eccentric dramedy Mount Pleasant - and if you've ever dreamt about Ronnie Mitchell and Dennis Rickman getting it on in an alternate 'Enders timeline, you're in lucky, as the pair are playing a couple!

But it's not long before lovebirds Tanya and Bradley are causing trouble for their neighbours, with a housewarming bash turning into a theatre of tears and tantrums following a series of unfortunate events in Mount Pleasant - including Lisa (Sally Lindsay) unexpectedly losing her job, Charlie (David Bradley) and Pauline (Paula Wilcox)'s wedding plans going up in the air and Bianca (Sian Reeves) being refused a big insurance payout after her late husband's death.

Sally Lindsay interview

Back in June, I went up to Manchester to visit the set of Mount Pleasant to see how the series is put together and got the chance to speak to Sally Lindsay who plays Lisa, wife of Dan who is played by Daniel Ryan. Here's what Sally had to say about the new series and how she feels about another familiar soap face joining the series...