Sue Johnston, actress, was surprised by Michael Aspel during rehearsals for the play Hindle Wakes at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Sue, who was born in Warrington, first started acting with the drama group at Pilkington Glass, where she was working, before going on to train at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her first professional job was in 1965 at the Theatre Royal, St Helen's, and she worked predominantly in theatre during the 1970s including with Theatre in Education at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.