REBECCA Jackson's fear of heights left her hopes of National Lottery stardom dangling in mid-air.

Addingham-based Rebecca, 23, was all set to appear on the National Lottery Big Ticket show next Saturday, presented by Anthea Turner and Patrick Kielty, when disaster struck.

She received a video cassette which showed that during the show she would be winched up to more than 90ft in the air by a crane - and then dropped into a net below.

When she said 'no way', programme chiefs held a meeting and decided to drop her from the show.

Rebecca had battled through a tough selection process to take part in the BBC1 prime time Saturday evening show.

She is a member of Ilkley's Up-Stagers Theatre Group which received almost £200,000 from the National Lottery in July last year. Representatives from successful Lottery bidders are invited to apply to take part in the Big Ticket show.

Rebecca, who applied under her professional name of Rebecca Louis, was set to work with a celebrity to help a member of the public win a possible jackpot of £100,000.

The Addingham actress attended a number of assessments, which included physical tests and a selection of questions about herself.

The necessary insurance forms were filled in and everything appeared to be running smoothly.

However, little did Rebecca realise just what the Big Ticket show had in store for her.

"I received a video last week which showed what I was expected to do. It didn't appeal to me at all. As part of the show I would be put into a harness and winched up about 90 to 100 feet to the top of a crane. I would then be dropped into a net below," she said.

Rebecca's stomach turned to jelly as she watched what she would have to do in the name of 'entertainmen'.

"The funny thing about it all is I filled in a form in which I said I was afraid of heights," she said.

"I'm sure it's perfectly safe but I spoke to the people at the show and told them I didn't want to do it. This seemed to puzzle them slightly but I had made it clear how I didn't like heights," said Rebecca.

The Up-Stagers 15 minutes of fame was in serious jeopardy because the show's producers needed a girl and the only other members of the Ilkley-based group to attend the assessments were male - none of whom had signed the necessary insurance forms.

Those hopes have now been dashed following a call from the show this week. "I received a call about 6pm on Tuesday evening. It seems the producers had a big meeting to decide what to do about me. I won't be going on after all.

"I wasn't keen on having a massive panic attack live on television. I don't think the producers were either. However, they did say they would put by name forward for the next series, if there is one."

I think they were trying to find out if the celebrity would be willing to do the crane game," she said.

"I'm not too disappointed I haven't made it on to the television this time. The Up-Stagers don't get any money out of it," said Rebecca.

The Up-Stagers should enjoy another boost later this month when the Ilkley Carnival committee reveals the amount raised for the beneficiaries of the 1998 event. Rebecca has her fingers crossed for some good news.

l RIGHT: Rebecca, currently helping a new generation of budding actors/actresses and dancers in Ilkley's First Schools, is pictured with friends Liz Jadav and Richard Simpson.

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