MAUREEN Nolan is once again treading the boards in Blood Brothers as Mrs Johnstone – still inspired by watching her late sister Bernie in the same role 15 years ago.

Maureen, who first took on the role in 2005, says it was seeing Bernie play the part of Mrs Johnstone that made her fall in love with the Willy Russell classic.

Bernie, who sadly died early last month aged 52 after battling breast cancer, started off the family trend to perform in Blood Brothers in 1998, before Denise, Linda and Maureen followed suit, leading to the sisters earning recognition in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most siblings playing the same role at different time in a professional production in 2007.

Dublin-born Maureen, who has been performing since the age of nine when she made her debut with family girl group The Nolan Sisters - best known for their song I'm in the Mood for Dancing - admits she still occasionally gets butterflies before she performs.

Maureen, aged 59, said: “I have been playing the part of Mrs Johnstone since 2005 and have done it in the West End so I’ve been in and out of that role ever since, but it was my sister Bernie that took the role first.

“She went to see Blood Brothers probably about 20 years ago when Barbara Dixon was playing the part of Mrs Johnstone.

“After she came back and was raving about it we all wanted to see it too, but Bernie got the part a few years later so I went to see her in Manchester in around 1998.

“I always said she would never convince me to like it – but within five minutes she had me transfixed.”

Maureen says Willy Russell’s much loved and moving story about twin brothers separated at birth only to be reunited by a twist of fate and their mother’s haunting secret is her first choice.

She said: “Blood Brothers is my favourite play and I’ve seen it 18 times now. People always say what do you think about the musical – but I think that it’s Willy Russell’s genius that makes this play what it is as opposed to the music.

“His writing is amazing. He makes you cry in a heartbeat and then the next moment you’re laughing out loud.

“Plus I just don’t think there’s a better part to play than Mrs Johnstone for a woman of my age – or any age for that matter. She’s so feisty and strong and funny.”

Maureen admits that following in her sisters’ footsteps made it hard for her to audition for the part.

She said: “Imagine being the only sister not to get the part? That would have killed me.

“I knew the play so well though because I’d had lots of chats with my sisters who helped me work out how I wanted to perform, but it was a big pressure.

“Even today I still get a buzz from performing and occasionally a few butterflies. But you’ve just got to hold it together.

“Thankfully the rest of the cast is amazing. Shaun Jones who plays Mickey has done it for about 16 years, and the narrator has performed on Broadway.

“I think that acting is more my thing now - especially if I get to do some songs too, like in Blood Brothers. Then I get the best of both worlds.”

Blood Brothers begins its tour at the Lowry Theatre on September 2-7. For tickets, visit thelowry.com/event/blood-brothers