Is This An Audition ?

Debbi had hoped that Harry would accompany her to the audition for the soap but she realised that he had other clients much higher up the celebrity pecking order than her. "Don't worry" he reassured her. "Reg the producer is old school. He's totally legit, you won't find yourself in any kind of #metoo situation !"

Instead of driving up to the studios in Yorkshire, Debbi had taken advantage of the first class rail ticket that the TV company had supplied so that she could arrive more relaxed. She was wearing her new essential accessory of a pair of designer sun glasses but when she asked the taxi driver at the station to take her to the studio, he did a double take. "'Ere, you're Bimbo WAG aintcha ?" On arrival, Debbi was collected from reception and shown to a plush sixth floor office with full length picture window offering a fine view of the city.

"Ah Debbi, so glad you could come." She was greeted by an elderly gent in an immaculately tailored suit. Reg was past retirement age but had no thought of relinquishing the reins on his brainchild of thirty years ago that was the soap Down On The Farm. "You don't mind me calling you Debbi ?" he enquired. "It's better than Bimbo WAG" Debbi laughed. "Yes" Reg agreed with a smile. "We're going to put you on the cast list under your own name, though the advance publicity we'll put out will ensure that the public know who you are" he explained. "Great" said Debbi. "That's Debbi without an 'e' by the way" she emphasised. "Yes, yes. I'm sure the caption writer will get that right" Reg assured her.

"But I thought this was an audition ?" Debbi wondered. "You're talking as if I already had the part ?" Reg laughed. "I think we've made a decision on that. The part doesn't call for any great acting ability for the two episodes you're written into initially. Whether we expand your part and offer you a longer contract depends on how the audience reacts to you" he explained. "Oh" Debbi was a little disappointed. "Sorry if that sounds a bit brutal but that's how the business works" said Reg when he saw the look on Debbi's face.

"No, no. Of course. I know I've got no experience. So what's the part ?" Debbi asked. "A stripper" Reg answered enthusiastically. "Oh" said Debbi who hadn't been expecting that, though in hindsight she realised that she should have done. "You're hired for the stag do before Seth's wedding and the idea is that Angie gets jealous and there's a cat-fight" Reg elaborated, mentioning well known characters from the soap. Reg saw the look on Debbi's face again. "But I don't know how to strip" she pointed out. "Don't worry, it'll only be down to your undies. This is prime time and we can't be any more daring unfortunately" Reg chuckled. "But how to dance ?" Debbi was still unsure. "We've arranged lessons with a professional pole dancer" said Reg.

Now that she had got over the initial surprise, Debbi was beginning to think that it might be fun. "So you don't need me to audition now with a little dance ?" she asked, her mischievous side reasserting itself. Reg sighed wistfully. "Oh Debbi. Maybe twenty years ago but not now" he said, as he buzzed through for coffee to be brought in !