People keep saying, "Ooh, it's interesting because it's the first time they've cast a genuinely cockney Eliza" - which isn't the interesting thing at all, now is it? I mean, any actress worthy of the name ought to be able to pretend to be a cockney for half a play. The fact is, all actresses up till now have been making a special effort not to be too convincing a cockney in case they were for one second believed, which would bring an abrupt end to their days as a potential love interest in any other play. Martine had the skill, the courage and - o you heavens! - the EastEnders pedigree not just to embrace the common accent, but to act in it as well. She still sounded like a cat being boiled, yes, but she didn't sound like she was making those noises for a posh, actressy joke. So what if she came a bit unstuck when she had to play the princess? So what if the effort of classy diphthongs left her no concentration whatever to spend on acting, or dancing, or singing? The fact is, all Eliza's best bits are when she's common - after (by gum) she gets it, she's just another frothy bird waiting for love. Before, though, she's a work of comic genius.