As Nanny Mo, actress Marcia Warren has had a ball playing a character who is so forthright and who doesn't care if she upsets anyone with her rude comments.

Marcia - who has starred in many TV comedies across the years - describes Nanny Mo as an 'absolute devil'. "She is so rude but she has got such energy," explains the 69-year-old actress. "She has some wicked lines and she is a bit mischievous. I have loved playing her so much.

"She has wielded her way into the Gary's flat because she knows she is on to a good thing. Camp Gary does her hair and make-up but she is extraordinary and I just hope her rudeness is not rubbing off on me too much!"

Marcia admits one of her own relatives does share similarities with Nanny Mo. "One of them has her stubbornness but I had better not say who" says Marcia, smiling as she does. "I loved doing one scene with Blake where it was all about the granny/grandson relationship. She is very rude to him!"

She says the best thing about playing Nanny Mo has been the friendly atmosphere on set. "They are all such darling people and we have all got on so well together," she adds. "It has been super and it really has felt like a family."

"I have been so lucky with the roles I have been offered as they have all been so varied. I have always played old characters and now I am growing into parts I used to play! I think my family would love me to play someone young. It would be nicer to play someone younger but one forgets one is old. You look at the screen and you think you are 150 but when you feel young inside, it is different.

"I do feel so proud and, to be honest, it's a miracle that I have done all the things I have been in over the years. When I started in theatre, I never thought I would do a telly series and as for a film, well that was beyond my comprehension. It's been incredible."

There have, she adds, been too many enjoyable roles to pick out, but she says she loved her time recently on set with Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi on ITV's Vicious. "It is going to be coming back again which is just wonderful news," she enthuses. "Imagine lunchtimes with the two Sirs?! They were fantastic. Watching them work was incredible and I loved performing in front of the audience even though it can be terrifying as you are worried you will dry up. I have loved the contrast of Vicious with Edge Of Heaven.

"My family loved the part I played in Stepping Out. She had such lovely clothes as she had a silver leopard. Your family don't want you to be old. They want you to be pretty. In fact I definitely won't want to buy Nanny Mo's clothes afterwards! She is quite butch really!"

Admitting her own heroes are Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith, Marcia says she would love to carry on acting for as long as she can. "When you see people like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, it is just so inspiring,' she says. "I saw them perform recently at the National Theatre and it was so moving and exciting. I love theatre and that is why I went into the business. I also like radio and that is a big passion of mine. You really can be anybody and you don't have to worry about your face! I don't want to retire, I would miss the people too much."