DESPITE a hot summer on the cards Wilmslow actress Denise Welch is looking forward to the winter chill.

She is already planning her perfect Christmas at home with her family after snapping up a pantomime role at the Stockport Plaza.

The actress, who shot to fame appearing on Coronation Street, is to play the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Denise jumped at the chance of appearing at a nearby theatre, turning down a major panto part in her native Newcastle.

Her family - actor husband Tim Healy and two boys Matthew, 15 and Louis, three - will now be able to celebrate the festive season together in Wilmslow.

Denise said: "I was offered a part in Newcastle again but we always seem to spend Christmas in the north east."

"I have never spent Christmas in my Wilmslow home before so there was never any doubt I would take the role in Stockport. I am really looking forward to playing the Wicked Queen but I have a lot to think about before then."

Both Tim and Denise are preparing for a busy filming schedule away from Wilmslow that will keep them out of Cheshire for the summer.

Tim is off to Thailand to film his sixth series of Auf Weidersehn Pet and will be away for eight weeks while Denise is spending the next six months in Dartmouth filming BBC drama Down to Earth.

She said: "It is going to be a really tough schedule for me. Myself and Ricky Tomlinson are taking over the lead roles in the drama and we have ten episodes to film."

"One major plus point for me though is that I have just hired a nanny so I will be able to take Louis with me and spend more time with him."

"Matthew will also be coming down and spending his summer holidays down in Devon. It is hard to be away from the family so it will be nice to come back and spend Christmas together."

"I won't be back until November though and then two weeks later I will start rehearsals for the panto."

Despite their hectic lifestyles, young Matthew hasn't been put off from following his famous parents into show business.

He is currently studying for his GCSEs at Wilmslow High School and starred in the school's sell out musical show at Manchester's Lowry Theatre, last year.

Now, Matthew has just cut his first EP with his own band, 'Three Hours Gone', so watch this space!