Harry's Katy is chip off block

Hit musical Chicago comes to town next week and among its razzle dazzle stars is Katy Secombe - daughter of Sir Harry - and Women's Editor

finds she's very much like her dad.

"I'm at my happiest being stupid," laughs Katy Secombe, the youngest daughter of the late and great comic genius Harry Secombe.

It's the sort of comment you would have expected Sir Harry himself to make, but these are indeed the words of his actress daughter, who certainly is a chip off the old block.

The bubbly young lady keeps you entertained from the moment you engage her in conversation.

Yet she's got every right to be exhausted - she's been on the road with Chicago for more than a year now - but she's practically bursting with energy when we chat in advance of the hit musical's arrival in Wolverhampton on Monday.

Katy plays the feisty and corrupt prison matron Mama Morton in the show and as such takes on some of the biggest singing scenes.

The character was played by Queen Latifah in the film version, which also starred Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma and Renee Zellweger as Roxie.

Sassy

"I love the role," says 39-year-old Katy, whose West End credits include Mama Mia and Les Miserables.

"Mama Morton is a crook who runs the jail and is well in with the villains. I give the role all I can."

The original production of Chicago, which is a slick and sassy satire on a corrupt justice system and the nature of celebrity, opened 32 years ago but it's still as popular as ever.

And why does Katy think it's so successful?

"I think its success is down to its simplicity.

"It's one of the classics and has something for everyone, including a simple storyline," said Katy, who trained at Bristol Old Vic.

It's six years now since the nation mourned the death of Katy's father Sir Harry from prostate cancer.

He was a big star in every sense of the world and loved by millions for his role in The Goon Show during the 50s and 60s.

He was also well known as presenter of religious programmes and for his beautiful singing voice.

Katy says she misses her father terribly.

"I think about him every day, but I know I'm very lucky to have had him as a father."

The actress says he was a "mine of information" when she entered the world of showbiz.

"He certainly didn't guide my career but he was very proud of me and was also realistic when he told me what to expect in showbusiness," she said.

"He was very helpful."

When it came to advice, Katy says her father helped with the technical side of things.

"Comedy is all about timing and you need to make sure you deliver at the right time and place, so dad would sometimes help me with technical timing."

"And I also remember him telling me that the world was full of idiots, so I needed to make sure I behaved," she laughed.

"That was wise advice."

Katy said she was lucky enough to work with her father in the musical Pickwick in 1993.

"That was a pretty special moment for me. We had great fun," she said.

Acting is very much a family affair for the Secombes, with several of Sir Harry's family working in the showbiz world.

"It's kind of the family job," she smiled.

"My big brother is an actor and my sister worked for the BBC so we talked shop quite a lot at home," she said.

"But dad never pushed any of us into it."

Performance

And she certainly didn't receive any special favours as she embarked on her career, she adds.

"I wanted to stand on my own two feet and wanted to show what I could do it myself. I always strive to give the best performance."

Katy's Chicago run ends in November and the actress hopes that in the future her career may bring her to the small screen.

"I turn 40 in December and will be taking a bit of time off but I would eventually like to do some TV work.

"I've done the odd bit of TV work, appearing in London's Burning and Casualty, but nothing really amazing.

"I've had a nice and varied career on the stage but I think if the right opportunity came up on TV, I would love to take it. I'd especially like to do a sitcom," said Katy.

It's no surprise to hear that the actress loves comedy.

"I've done a lot of stage work and a lot of musicals and I'm at my happiest being stupid," she laughs.

"It's so much fun doing comedy, but it is hard work. I really love it.

"Laughter is the best thing to hear from the stalls," she adds.

Sir Harry would no doubt agree.

l Chicago, which also stars West End actresses Haley Flaherty and Dawn Spence as well as Emmerdale actor Dale Meeks, is on at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday, September 24, to Saturday, September 29.

Tickets, priced £8.50 to £32.50, are available from the theatre box office in Lichfield Street, by telephone on (01902) 429212 or online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk