BRITAIN's Got Talent comedian Barbara Nice annoyed some ITV's Lorraine viewers by ignoring her past fame.
Actress Janice Connolly, whose comedy stage name is Barbara Nice, was a TV favourite when she starred as holy Mary in Peter Kay's classic show on Phoenix Nights.
She's been seen as Barbara on the comedy circuit, but hadn't been on telly before Britain's Got Talent.
Janice appeared as Barbara – a caricature of a middle aged housewife and mother of five from Kings Heath, Birmingham – on Lorraine and spoke to Christine Lampard about auditioning for the show.
Speaking about her 'husband' Ken, she said: "He knows about the little jigs I do, say in Buxton, and I've done Derby a couple of times as well.
"I've not told him about this audition, there's no point telling him, it's on a strictly need to know basis."
Christine pointed out that the show is watched by millions and some viewers moaned that she's "already a TV professional".
One person said on Twitter: "Barbara Nice aka Janice Connelly BEM. professional actress. Phoenix Nights, Coronation Street. #BGT."
Another remarked: "Why is Barbara nice getting loads of publicity? She's already a TV professional having appeared on Phoenix Nights. She even has a tour. She's not a raw talent which is what BGT is supposed to be all about."
However, others praised the comedian for her incredible talent.
Why is Barbara Nice getting loads of publicity? She's already s TV professional having appeared on Phoenix Nights. She even has a tour. She's not raw talent which is what #BGT is supposed to be all about. #GMB #Lorraine
— Honey Bee (@Imtherealanon) April 22, 2019
The comedian left the judges in hysterics on the ITV show on Saturday when she apepared on stage with her colourful clothes and witty one liners.
And Janice a full time comic and actress with an impressive roster of roles behind her after being spotted by Peter Kay in 1997.
She went on to play Holy Mary in Phoenix Nights, a part Dave Spikey claimed he wrote with her in mind.
The character was reprised in Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere written by Peter and Paddy McGuinness.
Her other roles include playing Carole in Dave Spikey's Dead Man Weds and she has been in Coronation Street twice as Dolly Gartside and Sheila Wheeler.
As well as her successful TV career, she also has found huge success on the comedy circuit, having performed one woman shows across the UK.
She also played Mrs Bamforth in That Peter Kay Thing.
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She has also appeared as Barbara Nice in solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2012, 2014 and 2018 – and landed a pilot of BBC2 Radio 2.
Janice is so familiar that Simon was convinced he'd met her before and asked her whether she's appeared on the show previously.
However Barbara it was her first time, which prompted her to compliment Simon's super-white teeth as an ice-breaker.
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