Shakespeare is man who pays the rent: Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench has described William Shakespeare as "the man who pays the rent", ahead of her performance in Stratford upon Avon.

On Saturday evening, Dame Judi will appear in Shakespeare Live from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, alongside David Tennant.

The actress has appeared in dozens of the Bard's plays throughout her career and won the first of her record-breaking eight Olivier Awards for her performance as Lady MacBeth in 1977.

In an interview with BBC Midlands Today presenter Mary Rhodes, she said Shakespeare was known in her family as "the man who pays the rent".

Dame Judi was in Warwick on Thursday, at St Mary's Church, to officially open Shakespeare 400: History, Heritage and Faith, which runs until the end of June.