MAGGIE DISMAY

Former River City star admits he can't wait to see the reaction north of the Border to stage play about Iron Lady and the role her policies had on devastating Scots communities

-  PAUL ENGLISH

IT'S one of the most demanding roles of his career but former River City star Gary Lamont is expecting the boos to ring out when the curtain goes up on his latest show.

The 40-year-old, who played Robbie Fraser in the Sheildinch soap for five years, is heading back to 80s.

Lanarkshire and the spectre of Maggie Thatcher in an adaptation of author Damian Barr's literary hit Maggie & Me - and he's ready for brickbats.

Gary plays author and TV presenter Barr in the stage version of the award-winning memoir, which was published 10 years ago.

The harrowing tale follows Barr's life as a child and teenager, dealing with abuse and violence against the backdrop of the closure of the Ravenscraig steel works, one of Thatcher's most devastating cuts to Scotland.

And Superman fan Gary knows that when the Iron Lady appears on stage, it won't be to a warm reception.

"Maggie is played by Beth Marshall, and it's some job she has," said Gary.

"How do you portray Margaret Thatcher in Scotland? We are actively anticipating boos.

"I was born in 1984, I was a child of Thatcher and I believe we are still the children of her policies, because the after-effects of so many have remained.

There's a lot of bitterness towards her still and a certain feeling of powerlessness.