Favourite Book

Her favourite book is Alice in Wonderland because she was always a dreamer when she was little, always wanting to be a character from the book. She particularly loves Alice, and has played the White Rabbit on stage.

Favourite Possession

A gold watch that she got from her parents, as an eighteenth birthday present, with the face set in the band. She says she doesn't wear it much now as she prefers silver but she will always treasure it.

Favourite Photo

One of her god-daughter Andrea in a christening gown. She said "This was taken at home and herand her sister are two of the prettiest babies you've ever seen."

First Ever Film You Went To See

The first ever film she saw was the Sound of Music when she was six. She said "I can remember watching the film and wishing that I was one of the Von-Trapps." She remembers how beautiful the mountains at the beginning were, and was also impressed by the cinema itself.

Favourite Food

She loves Japanese or Chinese, but at that present time her favourite is Italian food and loves things with garlic or peppers in them. She said "There is a great Italian restaurant on the Kings Road where they do a great pasta with Basil".

Favourite TV Programme

She loves Coronation Street, she said "The characters are so strong" and her favourite is Rachel, but she also loves sitcoms like One Foot in The Grave, Fawty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances because the characters make her laugh.

Most Embarrassing Moments

In Cats in 1990 in Dublin, whilst playing Grizabella, she went up on the staircase to take her to a new life, when it got stuck in mid-air. She said "They left me up there until nearly the end of the show. I almost hyperventilated with embarrassment."

When she was seven, she turned up to a friends birthday party a week early and was so embarrassed that she refused to go back a week later.

Person you most admire.

The person I most admire is my mom because she has been so strong since my dad died four years ago. She had nursed him through rheumatoid arthritis and then cancer but she never moaned and she is now the life and soul of the our village near Selby in Yorkshire

Favourite item of clothing.

Her favourite item of clothing is a pair of lace-up booties that she got from Next about three years ago and wears with everything. This pair has just about had it now but she can't bear to part with them.

First Romance

Her boyfriend at school was called Charles but everyone called him Chuckle-face.

What she loves/hates about her body.

She loves the fact that she has long legs with elongated muscles which are idea for dancing but hates her toes which she says are too long and battered from years of point work. She used to use her feet like hands when she was little, and used to pick things up with them just like a monkey.

Best Investment

She was involved in a bad car accident about 10 years ago and had her two front teeth knocked out. When she got the job on the Generation Game, she spent quite a lot of money having them repaired but it was the best investment she ever made.

Favourite Shop

She said her favourite shop was Wallis because everything was laid out so nicely and not too expensive.

First Record Bought

When she was 10 she bought 'Puppy Love' by Donny Osmond. She was already crazy about dancing, but since her sister was a big fan of David Cassidy, she though she should be a fan of somebody, so she chose Donny.

What car do you drive ?
A BMW 316 Compact.

Qualifications:
English O-level and lots of dance certificates - my school subjects suffered because of dancing.

Your first job:
A paper round when I was 10.

What would you do if you weren't in showbusiness ?
I was junior high jump champion at school and would like to have been an athlete.

One job you would have loved:
A role in the musical A Chorus Line. It was the first London show I ever saw, but by the time I got my Eqity Card it had ended its run.

Your favourite soap and character:
Eastenders is great now that Dot Cotton is back, but I can't choose between that show and Coronation Street.

Your favourite other TV show and character:
Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. I love the mix of sadness and laughter.

Favourite movie:
White Christmas.

Favourite movie star:
Gene Kelly.

Your ideal dinner guests:
Liza Minelli, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. I'd love to hear their stories and showbiz gossip.

What were the first and last records you brought ?
The first was Puppy Love by Donny Osmond, the last was the soundtrack to the film The Piano.

Your favourite pop act:
Elton John.

Who makes you laugh ?
My Dogs, Dodger and Chelsea.

Whats the best/worst advice you've ever been given ?
The best was do your best and you can't do any more. The worst was don't go on the stage.

How do you relax ?
Walking the dogs or making tapestries.

What was your most embarassing moment ?
When i was six I got dressed up in my best frock for a birthday party, but when I turned up I was a week early. I was in floods of tears and couldn't bring myself to go the following week.

When did you last cry ?
I cry all the time so it was probably last week. Anything can set me off - a sad film or news report.

What book are you reading ?
Room Mates by Max Apple.

Who has sex appeal ?
Kevin Costner.

Describe yourself in five words:
Emotional, stubborn, daydreamer, worrier, hardworking.

If you were reincarnated, what would you be ?
One of my dogs, they have a great life.

What's the worst piece of clothing you have ever brought ?
A pair of platform strappy sandals that I couldn't walk in.

Whom do you despise most in the world ?
Anyone who tries to con someone. Being ripped off is horrible.

Is there a Rosemarie Ford fan club?
(Gilbert Koningstein, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Not at the moment. I deal with everything myself - which means I'm sometimes late getting back to people, but I always do get back to them.

How long did it take to become an "overnight success"?
(Peter Milne, Fareham)

Well, I've been dancing from the age of eight and I was on television in children's programmes until I was 14, then I danced on loads of shows - Morecambe and Wise and various Brucie shows. But I was 28 before I got the Generation Game - so it's taken many years!

Do you find your TV work fulfilling, bearing in mind its lighthearted nature, or would you like to move on to something more serious?
(Liz Bryant, Chippenham, Wiltshire)

I enjoy what I do because it's so diverse. I still do theatre and that's more serious. But the programme I do with Rolf Harris is light but it's got a serious aspect too.

Which of your TV programmes have you enjoyed the most?

It's hard to choose because I enjoy them all immensely but on balance it would have to be The Generation Game. Five years of my life and I've laughed all the time! I've got so many more wrinkles in those five years but they're laughter lines - Bruce has made me laugh so much.

You've made one record album. Do you have any plans to do more singing?

I'd like to do more. Making an album whilst doing the Generation Game would be feasible but the public might think it odd if the person who does the animal programme suddenly released a record. Singing is very important to me. I keep my voice in training as I do my body. I sing in my cabaret act - I've performed it on the QE2.

Who is your favourite singer/musician?

Celine Dion, without a doubt. I like classical piano music too - Rachmaninov particularly.

What do you hope to be doing in five years time?

Surviving. I'd be happy as I am now, working on lots of different projects but with the time to do my own things - although at the moment my own thing is painting window frames in my home. They have very small panes of glass and its really fiddly but I love it!

Do you have any unfulfilled career ambitions?

I just want to carry on working - carry on doing what I do. I hope to carry on working with Rolf and I do hope Come Dancing is still going strong. I'll do anything provided I enjoy it. There's a possibility I might do some more theatre. Movies would be great of course but I don't put myself out there for them.

Have you always wanted to be a performer?

Yes - from the moment I took my first dancing lessons I never wanted to do anything else. I went to a local dancing school in Leeds, took my exams when I was 16 or 17 then came down to London as soon as I could to get on stage.

Do you use the Internet? If so, do you have a favourite website.

I'm not that brilliant with a computer, to be honest - but I am starting. Somebody has done a website for me, which I find incredibly flattering.

What interests do you have away from your work?

I enjoy decorating actually, although I'm as likely to get paint on me as where it's meant to go! I like going out on my bike and I love my animals - I have two dogs. I've always been around dogs: my dad used to breed show corgis.

What three things would you take to a desert island?

My dogs - I hope they can just count as one thing. Pictures of family and friends. And an old teddy given to me years ago.

What are you doing on Millennium Eve?

I should start planning that, I expect - it'll be upon us before we know it. I'll almost certainly be with family and friends. I won't be in Trafalgar Square or by Big Ben, that's for sure.

Thanks to Strap 83 for all of those!