KEEPING Up Appearances star Judy Cornwell is backing The Argus campaign to reinstate the Palace Pier name on Brighton's most iconic attraction.

The actress and author told this newspaper she supports our calls on the pier's new owner Luke Johnson to remove the Brighton Pier signs and put Palace Pier back in lights.

Mr Johnson, who heads the Eclectic Bar group, announced he had bought the pier for £18 million earlier this month from the previous owners, The Noble Organisation.

The Brighton based Mrs Cornwell, best known for her role as Daisy in the sitcom, said the Palace Pier name is "much better".

The 76-year-old said: "It is what it was known as for so long, and lets keep our traditions."

The actress has a special relationship with the Palace Pier as it is the place where she met her husband, John Parry.

Mr Parry had been training as a journalist at The Argus when he went to review a show on the now-demolished end of the pier theatre.

He attended a play at the theatre and after writing a favourable review he knocked on her dressing room door to introduce himself and six months later they were married.

Mrs Cornwell said: "The original old theatre was absolutely beautiful, its where I met my husband.

"I was appalled when the theatre disappeared because it was just so beautiful.

"If they could have a theatre there again it would be lovely. "

Last year she celebrated her 60th year in showbusiness.

She got her start as a dancer performing at the Hippodrome when she was just 15-years-old, taking the leading part in Cinderella when the lead actress fell ill - saying "I hope they do not pull the Hippodrome down and replace it with a block of flats".

She added she would also like to see the skeleton of the West Pier converted into a place specifically designed for roosting starlings.

Mrs Cornwell is currently starring as Miss Marple in a nationwide touring production of A Murder Is Announced, coming to Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne next week.

On Friday, she told The Guide she plans this to be her last tour so she can spend more time with her husband.