Actress Claire Faulconbridge worked with Robin Williams on hit US comedy show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In and played alongside Richard Gere in Grease as it made its West End debut.

She went on to enthral around 15 million viewers five days a week as flame-haired rich bitch Miranda Pollard during six years with popular Midlands-based soap opera Crossroads.

Ten years after quitting Crossroads, in 1996, she was working full-time at Number One hair and skin care shop in Droitwich High Street, which had been opened by her husband.

Speaking at the time, Claire explained that she had struggled with the hysteria that came with being a TV star and moved into radio. She then sought more stability with her 9-5 in Droitwich.

She told me: ”Coachloads of people would be outside my home, while others would follow me in shops to see what I was buying. I began to fear for my family.”