Often called the ‘First Lady of British Musical Theatre’, Elaine Paige returned to the London stage this month as Queen Rat in the pantomime DICK WHITTINGTON at the London Palladium.

After making her West End debut in 1968 as one of the Tribe in HAIR, she won the Olivier Award ten years later for her acclaimed portrayal of Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA. In 1981 Elaine originated the role of one-time glamour puss Grizabella in Sir Andrew’s CATS. Her song ‘Memory’ became a top 10 hit. She followed that with Florence in CHESS and Edith Piaf in PIAF. After playing Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD at London’s Adelphi Theatre, Elaine reprised the role for her Broadway debut in 1996.

I drew this CATS, PIAF, EVITA montage of Elaine and tried on a number of occasions to catch her at the BBC Radio 2 studios, where she records her weekly ELAINE PAIGE ON SUNDAY show, but kept missing her. So I waited at the Palladium’s stage door on Saturday – a plan that proved much more successful, as she arrived for the first matinee.