GAIL Watson is having a lovely time being dead at the moment.

“I’m really enjoying it,” says the actress, currently filming new ITV drama, as yet untitled, about the life and terror-wreaking times of Scots murderer Peter Manuel.

“I’ve never been killed off before. I’ve been a Taggart prostitute and a cop but never a cadaver.

“I was really excited about it, desperate to see how the make-up department create a bullet wound.”

She adds, grinning; “But as I lay there on the mortuary slab I realised how hard it is to hold your breath. When the director said ‘Cut!’ I was was so glad.”

Gail, who plays Katie Morag’s mum in the CBeebies show, also has to chance to speak in the drama, set for for the autumn.

But she is far from corpse-like in her current Oran Mor stage show.

Edinburgh-born Gail is currently starring alongside Frances Thorburn, Clare Waugh in Doris, Dolly . . . And the Dressing Room Divas.

It’s a theatre show which offers the audience the chance to sing along to the hits of Doris Day, Dolly Parton, Julie Andrews and other icons.

Gail reveals how the idea for the hit show emerged.

“I did a Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline for director Morag Fullerton at Oran Mor, and at the time I said I was nothing like Patsy Cline as a singer.

“I felt my voice was too high, and over lunch one day I said to Morag I was more suited for Dolly Parton.

“I sort of gave her a wee burst of Dolly, and she noted this. And she said ‘Who else can you do?’

“I said ‘I’d love to do a really filthy Julie Andrews and I gave her a bit of other divas and icons such as Doris Day, whose songs I love.”

Gail had no idea what Morag Fullerton would do with this information. But a few months later the writer/director came up with Doris and Dolly, which features three make-up girls bitching and competing to see who can outshine as each of the icons.

Gail loves performing Doris’s Sentimental Journey.

“That’s because Hilary Brooks has done such a delicious job blending our voices in great harmonies.

“But when we add Get Happy by Judy Garland and Nine To Five by Dolly you have songs that audiences can’t not sing along too.

“What really stunned me one night was seeing a theatre critic in the front row, with her eyes closed, singing along to Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

“That’s how powerful these songs really are.”

Gail adds, grinning; “Maybe a glass of wine was involved as well.”

The show has already played to sell out audiences at the Edinburgh Festival.

“We had no idea it would be sold out by the third night. This is being up against thousands of show.

“We knew at this point we had a universal show. And it’s not just the public who love it, it’s also people in the business.

“It’s all about a fun night.”

And boy do audiences need a fun night at the moment, what with Brexit, the collapse of the pound, the Chilcot revelations and the departure of Jason from Coronation Street.

“That’s so true,” she says. “Let’s hope it goes on to tour. There has been a fair bit of interest at the moment. And it should have.

“The show works because writer director Morag Fullerton knows what an audience wants to see, it’s about great writing. And having the right cast.”

Gail is a mother-of-two little boys. But they won’t be able to see the adult night-time show that is Doris and Dolly.

“They got to see me film Katie Morag in Stornoway, and it was a lovely experience for me.

“They’ve also seen me in panto. But the truth is they are really unimpressed by their mum.

“Katie Morag may be a Bafta-winner but they don’t want to watch it. They’re more interested in their X Boxes.”

Will they watch her Peter Manuel appearance?

“Maybe wait ‘till their older,” she says, grinning.

It’s a shame her sons are too young to see her Doris and Dolly. Gail Watson is a stand-out.

“You do your best,” she says, in all modesty, adding, with a grin, “And if you don’t the audiences will slaughter you.”

• Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas, Oran Mor, July 14-17 and 20 -24, show starts at 7.45pm.