It seemed to be a routine assignment when I was dispatched to the Cumbrian village of Castle Carrock – which coincidentally was where my editor lived – to cover the annual carnival. However when I arrived I realised that Carlisle-born actor Roxanne Pallett, formerly a star of Emmerdale, was one of the guests. And I ended up with a scoop when she told me she had just finished filming a horror film in the US. However, the film’s release was blighted by legal action over the unauthorized use of a photo of a woman who went missing in County Wexford in Ireland. It was eventually released with the photo in question blurred out. I really should track down a copy.

Roxy’s guest appearance after filming new movie in Hollywood

ACTRESS Roxanne Pallett swapped the mean streets of Los Angeles for the rural idyll of Castle Carrock to make a surprise guest appearance at the village’s annual carnival.

The Carlisle-born star, who left Emmerdale four years ago, had just returned from Hollywood where she has been filming for horror film Wrong Turn 6.

She said landing the role was quite a coup because she is the first English actress to be cast in the series.

The film is due for release later this year and she takes the part of Jillian, one of the central characters.

The original Wrong Turn, made in 2003 and, with five sequels, is one of the longest running horror franchises in recent history.

Plot lines feature a family of deformed cannibals who hunt groups of people in West Virginia.

Speaking after crowning the Carnival Princess, Roxanne, who is from Currock, said it was nice to return to the relative peace and quiet of Cumbria.

She added: “I love it, I always come to Castle Carrock – [fellow actor] Ben Forster is a close friend so I like to visit him.

“It’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of London. The people are really welcoming – it’s a little sanctuary.”

Roxanne said she got to know Ben when they were appearing in a stage version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Ben had asked her to make an appearance as a favour.

Ben said he spends his time living between Castle Carrock and London but added that he preferred the village because of its “lovely atmosphere”.

Mel Brown, the landlady of the Duke of Cumberland, was the carnival organiser and this year it returned to the village green outside the pub.

She said: “This is the first year we’ve organised it – we only decided to do it a few months ago. It used to be on here years ago before the school took over [the organisation of it]. There has been a lot of feedback and the parents like it back on here.”

Mel said there was a good turnout considering several other events were taking place on the same day.

Vince Jobson, a watch manager at Brampton Fire Station, was part of a crew that took an appliance to the carnival.

He said it was an important way of raising awareness of various fire safety issues. He added: “It’s good for the youngsters and it’s good for the community.”

Villager Maria Wright said: “The village is good for community events – there’s always something going on.”

From The Cumberland News on Friday, July 11, 2014.