AS I am far from the most shy and retiring person in the newsroom, I was hardly surprised when our lady of Leisure, aka Kerry Ann Eustice, nominated me for a bit-part in Greenwich Theatre's Dick Whittington.

When I say I have done amateur dramatics in the past, I mean amateur. I love theatre and even have a degree in performing arts, but after embarrassing past experiences, I decided to put away stage make-up for good.

But after about 13 seconds of persuading from Kerry Ann, I agreed to give Dick Whittington a go and tread the boards with the professionals.

I arrived at the theatre to be fitted for my costume, which consisted of a black waistcoat, Elizabethan-style white shirt, breeches and white stockings. Attractive.

After recovering from the initial shock of such a major public fashion faux pas, I ran through my moves with director Kieron Smith. I practiced my one line, "Rats!" until I mastered a mix of volume, humour and distress.

Sitting at the Hollywoodesque mirrors in my dressing room the pressure really began to build. But before I could freak out I was ushered to the stage. It was my cue.

After my first scene, where I was part of a crowd and had to pretend to sell a huge chunk of cheese, I came off in fits of laughter - much to the stage management's amusement. And on my next stage exit, I nearly took the scenery with me as I crashed head-first into the door. Not a good look.

Taking centre stage for my "Rats!" line came around far too quickly and before I knew where I was, I was sitting clad in my civilian clothes watching the second half as part of the audience.

The whole experience is one I will never forget and the cast and crew where such a fantastic bunch of people who absolutely love what they do.

Panto runs at Greenwich Theatre until Jan 5.