SALLY Whittaker is one of us. She may be a household name and live in a posh Cheshire suburb, but thereés not an ounce of luvvie in her.

In fact, chatting to the Coronation Street star is just as good as having a chinwag with a mate. All thatés missing is a nicely chilled bottle of white wine.

But then, working mums like Sally donét do celebrity tantrums. There simply isnét the time and, after all, nobody hogs the limelight better on that score than kids themselves.

But try telling that to our Salés alter-ego, monster mum Sally Webster, who has undergone a character transplant of late. No longer happy to cook up a humble dish of fish fingers and beans, sheés pushing in all directions in a bid to win the title of Wetherfieldés Most Successful Family.

First, there were the stage aspirations for Rosie, whose singing talents wereé actually they werenét, because she didnét have any, but it was all right because it suddenly dawned on Mrs Pushy that her daughter was, in fact, a maths genius.

Kevin

Then thereés poor old Kevin, whose business has been thrown into turmoil by his wifeés productivity plans, which, if successful, could see our Rosie through private school é is there no end to this womanés ambition?

Apparently not, because this storyline is going to run and run é and one suspects ités all going to end in tears, probably Kevés.

But, for now, the real Sally, that sweet lady who wears Cat boots and baggy jeans, and looks 30 rather than 40, is happy to be playing the part of a psycho. éIém loving this storyline, and so is Michael (LeVell),é she says.

éFor once, weére not embroiled in some huge emotional drama which takes its toll, and the writers have come up with some cracking one-liners. Iém happy to run with this one.

éBut, as a mum, I can empathise with the character. In fact, several mums have said to me that they are just like Sally Webster. She wants her kids to have a good education, and Kevin needs a rocket up his backside to make more money.

"Sheés just trying her best because she doesnét want her kids to have the unfulfilled life sheés had. And there are a lot of pushy parents about.

éWhen we were kids, we would play out all day and only come in to eat, we had so much more freedom. Now, kids are encouraged to do so much more.

éIn some ways ités good, but they lose the chance to explore. And then there is so much pressure on them to achieve at school, with SATs tests and the like, and, as a parent, that pressure is very hard to resist, but you have to take a step back and remember that they are only children. Ités all about getting the balance right.é

And Sally knows quite a bit about balancing, as mother to Phoebe, nine, Sam, seven, and the latest addition, nine-month-old Hattie. Thankfully, husband Tim Dyvenor, an Emmerdale scriptwriter, works from home and they employ a nanny, so everybody pulls together.

Hattie

éI was a little concerned about becoming a mum at 40,é says Sally. éAfter all, I will be 50 when Hattieés 10. But ités lovely going back again. With the first child you always worry, and I had two children within 23 months of each other, which was very difficult. But when they went to school and I found out I was pregnant again, Tim and I were delighted.

éThis time around, Iém so much more laid-back and I donét worry about silly little things any more. I suppose ités the confidence that comes from maturity. I took Hattie to Samés school assembly recently, and she was as good as gold. He had three lines to say and weéd been through it at home. I was really proud of him.é

DOES she have any secret stage aspirations for her children? éNo, not at all. Obviously, if they wanted to act, Iéd support them. But the way this country is going, with the lack of tradesmen, Iéd be happy for Sam to become a joiner. Heéd make a good living.

éBut Iém not a pushy mother. Phoebe has dancing lessons, but if she turned around and said she didnét want to do it any more, Iéd say fine. My mum was just as laid-back. When I told her I wanted to be an actress, she could have said, éGet yourself a proper job,é yet she was always supportive.é

Playing the role of Sally, the control freak, has made her a teensy-weensy bit paranoid about her public image ...but thatés all been sorted after a spectacular defeat on the school sports field.

éIt was Phoebeés sports day and she wanted me to take part in the mumsé race. Last year, I had the perfect excuse because I was pregnant. I was worried that the other mums would think I was being pushy for taking part in the race.

éBut it couldnét haveturned out better, because I came last, which was fantastic. I definitely had public sympathy on my side.é

Which is more than can be said of Mrs Websteré