Debbie Peters, of Main Street, Wetwang, encountered car problems just as she pulled up at her London destination where she was to take part in filming for the new Sheilas’ Wheels advert over the weekend.

This incident was the latest of a catalogue of motoring mishaps, including the failure of her brakes at Staxton Hill, for the 42-year-old driver who beat 11,500 other hopefuls in the Make Me a Sheila Star auditions.

Debbie, a mental health support worker in Market Weighton, won a coveted place in the new advertising campaign for the women’s car insurance company but upon her arrival found her own vehicle did not come up to scratch.

But, lucky for Debbie, the insurance firm arranged for her Citroën Xsara Estate to be fixed at their expense - a job which turned out to cost hundreds of pounds.

She said: “I was parking at the hotel at Heathrow when the exhaust fell off. I panicked because I thought I could not afford the London prices to fix it.

“But they said to not worry about the car because they would fix it which is a good job because it wasn’t just the exhaust but the catalytic converter, too. They said they wanted to make sure I got home safely.”

After a shaky start Debbie got into the swing of things in London and said she thoroughly enjoyed all the filming at the Shepperton Studios which took place on April 18 and 19.

She said she and the other winners were treated like stars.

“I was ecstatic about it. We were treated like princesses. We were given a pink champagne reception with a cabaret act and ate steak every night,” she said.

Although Debbie said she cannot divulge any details about the new advert, which is due to hit screens on May 22, she did reveal that the famous pink car would be featured - crammed with the 30 competition winners.

The women had to dance and mime to a new song and were dolled up for the part by professional make-up artists.

“We mimed to the new song but it’s top secret and I can’t tell you any more but we had a choreographer and everyone was really pleased with us. The director was especially nice and was stunned how well we worked together as a team. We got each take first time,” Debbie explained.

Debbie, who used to attend the same drama group as Chris Evans and Gina McGee, said she has also made some lasting friendships from her jaunt to the capital and would be keeping in touch with them.

She said: “We will all keep in touch and it was quite tearful to leave the girls behind as we worked together for four days. It’s amazing how well you can get to know someone in four days.”

Asia Manzoor, a spokesperson for Sheila’s Wheels said: “Debbie’s Sheila factor really shone through at the Make Me a Sheila Star auditions and at Shepperton Studios during the filming of the new Sheilas’ Wheels advert which is due to air in May.