Sarah Hadland told she 'made childhood lit' for fans

Sarah Hadland says it is "amazing" that she gets recognised in public for her roles in Horrible Histories and Miranda

Actor Sarah Hadland says she still encounters young people who tell her she made their childhood "lit" through her role in Horrible Histories.

The 54-year-old featured in early series of the CBBC programme, as well as popular sitcom Miranda.

She said young women who watched Miranda also tell her that the show got them "through a really difficult time as a teenager".

Hadland added that every generation of children watch the programmes, which first aired in 2009.

"Horrible Histories, Miranda, most recently Strictly – they're all shows that you could imagine three generations sitting together and watching," she said.

Hadland reached the 2024 final of Strictly Come Dancing, adding that she found the BBC programme "more emotional" to watch than it was to take part in.

Sarah Hadland reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner Vito Coppola

She said she was proud of dance partner Vito Coppola for his performances with actor and model Ellie Goldstein, the first person with Down's syndrome to feature on the dancing show.

"I think it's great because it shows everybody what an incredible human being he is," Hadland said.

She is currently rehearsing for her role in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, opening on 28 November.

Hadland said the role has "worked out really, really well" due to its proximity to her home in Deal because "as a single parent, the logistics of a job is always can I get home, can I commute, how will it work with child care?".

She was first suggested for the role by a friend and had recently watched a film adaptation of Snow White with her child, she said.

"I can't quite believe it's all worked out that I'm going to be doing a show that my child wants me to do and can watch, and I'll be able to be in Deal while I'm doing it," she said.

"You must remember that somewhere in that audience will be, especially in panto, a child or a person that's saved really hard to get that ticket.

"You do it for that child, for that person."