She has jumped out of a plane at 21,000ft, swam with sharks and challenged the Prime Minister on TV on the issue of child education. So you would think that donning a pair of tights and a ‘silly jacket’ would be a walk in the park for Newsround presenter Hayley Cutts, wouldn’t you?

“But I’m really slightly nervous," laughs the 31-year-old from Manchester, about her impending stint as Jack in Harpenden Public Halls’ panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.

“I’ve never done any acting before – well, I did a bit at school and a bit of amateur dramatics when I was 15, but that’s about it. But I think I’m taking to it quite well, and I’m really enjoying it.”

Learning her lines is no problem for the journalist and TV reporter, as she has had to write and memorise scripts throughout her career, which has included working as a producer and undercover reporter on Panorama, The One Show and Sunday Life.

“The singing, though,“ she laughs, “that’s what I’m most uncomfortable with. But hopefully the people of Harpenden will be forgiving! There’s a lot of really good professional singers in the pantomime with me, so I’m hoping they’ll carry me!“ Jack and the Beanstalk will be Hayley’s first foray into panto, and she decided to give it a try when she went on maternity leave to have her first child, Arthur, who is now six months.

“Obviously I wouldn’t be able to do panto when I was working as the news is 24 hours a day,“ explains Hayley, “we even have to work on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, so that just wouldn’t work with being in a pantomime. But because I am off on maternity leave, I thought it would be a chance to do something different and try some new skills out on myself.“ For her first outing on the boards, Hayley has decided to base Jack on herself - to a certain extent.

“Traditionally the boy lead was played by a girl, so I don’t feel like I have to macho it up,“ she says, “but it is a bit weird, having to fall in love with a princess. I’m not a very soppy girl, so it’s quite hard to have to be a soppy boy.

“But my Jack is a northerner and a bit ditsy. I live at home with my mum, my best friend’s a cow and all I want to do is work on the farm, I’m very content with my life. But then I fall in love with the princess and get all this courage and strength and decide I can do anything – and then I decide I want to defeat a giant!“ Listening to Hayley talk, as she pushes little Arthur round a park in his pram, you can hear the nerves melting away as the excitement takes over, and she’s already thinking about doing it all again next year.

“I’ve had so much fun already, and the run hasn’t even started,“ she laughs, “it’s been brilliant. And Harpenden is such a nice place, I’ve really enjoyed coming down here. So, yes, I’d definitely be up for another.“

Jack and the Beanstalk is at the Eric Morecambe Theatre, Harpenden Public Halls, Station Road, Harpenden from December 13 to 22. Details: 01582 767525, harpendenpublichalls.co.uk