Mid-summer madness and plenty of laughs from June Rodgers

June Rodgers performs some of her hilarious characters in her new show, says Richard Fitzpatrick.

JUNE RODGERS is 25 years in show business. It began with the John Player Tops of the Town talent show. She was a chorus girl: “I was stuck in the back row, for what felt like six months of rehearsals, just swaying. Eventually, I got a few little hand movements here and there, and then got the legs moving a bit.”

The comedy writers, Martin Higgins, who still works with her, and the late Tom Roche, developed the characters, such as Jacinta O’Brien, for which Rodgers has become famous. Her variety shows, which include a tour of Ireland’s theatres this month, have been a hit since.