Thunder Girls writer Melanie Blake says play is a ‘part of a lifetime’ for Beverley Callard

Beverley Callard has the "part of a lifetime" on ‘The Thunder Girls’.
The ‘Coronation Street’ star is to appear in the play in September, and writer Melanie Blake has tipped the cobbles favourite – who plays Liz McDonald on the ITV soap – to put in an "amazing" performance in the role of Roxanne, who is hell-bent on revenge.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘The Thunder Girls’ book in central London, Melanie – who also penned the novel – exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Beverley is amazing. She has the part of a lifetime.
"Roxanne is a woman with not only an axe to grind, but a machete and a chainsaw, and she is coming to take her revenge."
The book and play tell the story of an 80s girl group who reunite 30 years after greed, envy and ego tore their band and friendship apart.
And Melanie admits soap fans will particularly love the play because each minute is like the dramatic climax of a soap opera’s Christmas Day episode.
She added: "This is like that Christmas episode of a soap you wait all year for.
"But it’s not just two minutes in two hours, it’s every single minute.
"You literally may need an ambulance to carry you out of the show. It’s a firebomb.
"The book is a roller coaster and your knuckles will turn whiter than the most extreme Alton Towers ride."
‘The Thunder Girls’ book is published on July 11th by Pan Macmillan, and comes after Beverley, ‘Loose Women’ panellist Coleen Nolan, and former ‘EastEnders’ star Carol Harrison signed up to star in the play.
Beverley previously said: "As an actor, when the scripts for plays land on my doormat – I’m always flattered and read them with relish.
"Mostly I have to say no because of my commitments to ‘Coronation Street’.
"Often, the lead character is a man, usually in a cast of maybe 10 men, 2 women, if we’re lucky.
"The females will be 20 something, or 30 something, and if you’re lucky maybe one woman ‘of an age’ max. Then I read ‘The Thunder Girls’ and wow.
"A four-strong ensemble of real women with real life experience. Feisty, sexy, funny, not to mention rich in drama, comedy and tragedy.
"Most important of all, this play is fiercely entertaining, every audience will love it. I simply could not say no and cannot wait to play Roxanne."