A BORED finance worker became a comedienne with her own BBC radio show after a nervous breakdown allowed her the time to become creative.

Money worries forced Amy Elliot-Smith, aged 24, of Ravensclough, Cuddington, into a dead-end job when she graduated from Liverpool University but she had always wanted to act.

Questioning the value of higher education she said: "No one I know has gone into the field they wanted to, they have just had to take any job that came along to pay the rent and I got stuck in that rut as well.

"I was absolutely miserable in my job and ended up feeling very anxious all the time, even when just watching TV."

A year since returning to her mum Ruth's house after suffering panic attacks, Amy has hit the big time with her own BBC radio show and she also has an interview to write television comedy scripts.

She said: "While going to counselling I felt I had to do something so I started to write. I wrote a two-hour show and also contacted a comedy club in Manchester who hold amateur nights."

BBC talent scouts spotted her and when ambitious Amy met the editor she asked him about getting her own show. After a trial 6am show she won a regular evening slot.

Amy remains upbeat about her Depressive Anxiety Disorder, from which she is still recovering. She said: "It's an awful term mental illness but one in three people go though it.

"The first thing I did when the doctor said I had it was to go online and I found all these famous people who have also suffered from it so I thought, oh I'm in good company then.

"When I'm having an attack it is not very funny but it has given me ideas for comedy sketches."

The show will be on GMR on Tuesday, September 9, between 7pm and 10pm.

ecummins@guardiangrp.co.uk