LOOK out .... She's beh-i-i-i-i nd you!

Pantomime dame and director Mike Edmunds says his soulmate Jean - who he married on St Valentine's Day, 1988 - backs him up in everything he does.

"Despite all the dressing up and the stage makeup I tend to be a bit introverted. Jean makes me get out there and strut my stuff," says Mike, 59, who has averted a looming tragedy and turned it into what is hoped will be a panto hit.

The first major production hitch came when the director of Dick Whittington put on by the Cancercareline charity at Blackwood's Little Theatre dropped out leaving Mike, billed to appear in the role of Dame Cookie, to step in and take charge.

Then, just as he was coming to terms with directing the panto and appearing in one of the leading roles the actors in two other important parts dropped out.

As if that were not enough, and with the whole show looking as though it might come apart at the seams, Mike came down with a dose of bronchitis.

The only bright spot was that Wendy Moss volunteered to come on board as co-director.

"I was on the point of pulling the show but then something kicked in. There was no way I could let the kids down and disappoint Cancercareline which was depending on the panto for cash support.

"It was at that point Jean rallied me. We found someone for the role of Billy and another actor for the part of the Sultana and everything started to go right.

"I've got Jean to thank. She's all heart but she 's all driving purpose, too." Love blossomed for Mike, originally from Brithdir, and Jean after they met at Caerphilly Social Club.

Their widely differing interests, they found, were complementary rather than divisive, and they decided to make the romantic gesture of marrying on St Valentine's Day.

"I had been a car sprayer and worked at the pit and although I've always had a yen for the theatre I don't think I would have done much about it had it not been for Jean" Mike says.

"They put some drama classes on at Blackwood 'Stute which I wanted to attend but felt I might chicken out. Jean had to almost push me out the car. Once in there, though, I threw myself into it and came out beaming.

"After that there was no stopping me. My first appearance was dressed up as a bee at Ty-Sign School in Risca in which my only line was 'Bzzzzzz'.

"Sometimes I need taking out of myself and Jean's the woman to do it." Jean's life is dedicated to turning potential tragedy into triumph whether it's pantomimes or her particular passion, counselling those affected by cancer.

After her father, a boyfriend and a grandmother died of the disease Jean, who is from Trinant, resolved to do something not only for those with cancer, but all whose lives have been touched by it.

Eleven years ago she took charge of the Blackwood-based charity - which received a grant to stage the pantomime from Argus parent company Gannett - which affords counselling to sufferers and relatives, arranges trips and treats and also mans a 24/7 hotline.

"I'm the one who always looks on the bright side. My glass is always half-full rather than half-empty " laughs fun-loving Jean whose hair is currently dyed a violent hue of purplish-pink.

Blackwood-based Cancercareline was set up by the council and still gets some funding from Caerphilly, but the onus is on Jean and her small band of workers to bring in the rest.

The charity's HQ, only 200 yards from the Little Theatre, buzzes with activity as volunteers cope with the calls coming in at the rate of 750 a year, and increasing.

"When it looked at though the pantomime might fall through I had to go into overdrive - he was getting impossible!" Jean laughs.

"But we got through it and the show is going on.

"There was a point though, when he was getting so wound up that I was beginning to think we might be up for a St Valentine's Day divorce!"

Dick Whittington is being performed on February 16 and 17 at 7pm and on February 18 and 19 at 2pm and 7pm at the Little Theatre, Blackwood. Tickets £5 ( £3 concessions) Booking 01495 221660.