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Christmas just isn't Christmas without a trip to the pantomime.

And a modern panto tradition is the celebrity guest star, a practice that dates back to the late 19th century!

So, get set for all the essential panto ingredients: pantomime dames, extravagant costumes, slapstick comedy, a little bit of magic and lots of audience participation.
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Here's our list of sparkling, star-studded pantos for the festive season:

* Cinderella starring former Corrie girl Shobna Gulati and Jonathan Wilkes at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. Box Office: 0870 060 6649
* Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs with soul star extraordinaire Sheila Ferguson and ex-Boyzone star Shane Lynch at the Central Theatre, Chatham. Box Office: 01634 338338
* Cinderella sees legendary Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney making his panto debut at the Sunderland Empire. Also starring Les Dennis, Liberty X's Michelle Heaton, Andy Scott-Lee, ex-Emmerdale star Dale Meeks and Mickey's wife, Jan Rooney! Box Office: 0844 847 24 99
* Aladdin starring Neighbours star Stefan Dennis at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen. Box Office: 01224 641122
* Cinderella with the hilarious Joe Pasquale at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. Box Office: 01702 351135
* The Wizard of Oz with Russ Abbot, Matthew Kelly and Gary Wilmot at the Mayflower, Southampton. Box Office: 023 80 711811
* Cinderella with star of stage and screen Nigel Havers at the Richmond Theatre. Box Office: 0870 060 6651
* Peter Pan starring the legendary Henry Winkler and Clare Buckfield (Dancing on Ice) at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking. Box Office: 0870 060 6645
* Cinderella starring Coronation Street favourites Johnny Briggs and Tina O'Brien at the Opera House, Manchester. Box Office: 0844 847 2277
* Scrooge the Musical with Shane Richie at the Manchester Palace Theatre, Birmingham Alexandra Theatre and the Southampton Mayflower.
* Dick Whittington starring former Dr Who Colin Baker at the Norwich Theatre Royal. Box Office: 01603 630000
* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Birds of a Feather's Lesley Joseph at Cardiff's New Theatre. Box Office: 029 2087 8889
* Cinderella starring Hayley Tamaddon, best known as Delilah Dingle in Emmerdale and Ryan Moloney (Toadfish from Neighbours) at the Sheffield Theatres. Box Office: 0114 249 6000
* Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - British icon Ross Kemp stars alongside comedian Bobby Davro at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Box Office: 0870 060 6646
* Cinderella - Family favourites Kim & Aggie, the TV's demon cleaners, star at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. Box Office: 08700 606 650
* Aladdin with Bradley Walsh and his former Coronation Street colleague Eric Potts at the Milton Keynes Theatre. Box Office: 0870 060 6652
* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with 'Cilla' from Corrie, Wendi Peters, at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford. Box Office: 01322 220000
* Cinderella with 'I'm a Celebrity' stars Wayne Sleep and Jan Leeming at the Theatre Royal Windsor. Box Office: 01753 853 888
* Dick Whittington starring "The One and Only" Chesney Hawkes at Salford's Lowry Theatre. Box Office: 0870 111 2000
* Cinderella starring the King of Big Brother 4, Cameron Stout, at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow. Box Office: 0141 332 1846
* Aladdin with EastEnders' Shaun Williamson, plus Stephen Mulhern, at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. Box Office: 01227 787787

GMTV

Panto tickets on sale


CREWE'S Lyceum Theatre is now selling tickets for this year's Christmas pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.

The show will feature a cast including Big Brother winner and handyman TV personality, Craig Phillips.

Also featuring are soap stars, Lara Sacher, who played Serina Bishop in Neighbours and Matt Milburn, who played Hollyoaks' Joe Spencer.


Written by infamous Panto duo, Iain Lauchlan and Will Brenton, this year's production promises to be full of music, magic, mayhem and surprise.

The show will be presented by WISH Theatre in association with Stephen Boden and Charles Vance, and the Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.

Big Brother winner, Craig said: "Since appearing on Big Brother in 2000 things have gone from mad to crazy.

I have had the opportunity to do many amazing things with my career over the last seven years, but I always enjoyed performing in Pantoland.

He added: "I can't wait to get on with playing beastly bully Eugene this winter."

Larah Sacher, who plays the part of Belle said: "This is my first time to the UK, when the opportunity came up to play the Princess style character in Pantomime I jumped at the chance.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting the cast and getting to know the people and the place of Crewe."

The production will run from December, 5 to January, 5 2008.Tickets are available from the theatre on: 01270 537333 or via the website: http://www.lcyeumtheatre.net.

Ticket prices range from £10.00 to £17.50 and family tickets from £39.
thisischeshire.

Paul Danan sacked for swearing at kids!


Paul Danan – of Love Island, Hollyoaks and Z-list fame – has been sacked from his panto job in Jack And The Beanstalk at Preston theatre after horrifying kids and parents with a string of four-letter words while switching on the town’s Christmas lights. The – ahem – star (?) was slapped with an instant fine by police after stunning the crowd with his outburst, which caused some families to leave the event. Danan, 29, was at Preston’s Flag Market with Coronation Street’s Richard Fleeshman (whom heatworld still has a little crush on) to turn the lights on, but began to abuse the crowd when he was heckled for not wearing a costume. Although he later apologised – saying he didn’t realise how many kids were at the event – his excuses didn’t wash with panto bosses, who reportedly gave him the boot before the show even opened. Ooh, anyone know what he said?!

heatworld

Watch Paul Danan’s cringy apology for swearing at kids heatworld

Under this year's Christmas tree scotsman

FIRST BIG BROTHER PLAYS IT FOR LAUGHS IN CREWE PANTO thisisstaffordshire

PANTOMIME: Liverpool’s Big Brother winner Craig Phillips, above, stars in Beauty and the Beast with Lara Sacher, from Neighbours, and a full supporting cast. From Wednesday, 10am and 2pm, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe. Various times until January 5. Tickets range £10-£17. 01270 www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/

In Panto now! Amy from Big Brother 8 availableforpanto

Lyceum panto breaks box office records



THIS year’s Lyceum Theatre pantomime in Crewe has already broken all box office records.

Beauty And The Beast, starring Big Brother winner Craig Phillips, former Neighbours beauty Lara Sacher and Hollyoaks hunk Matt Milburn, runs until Sunday, January 6, but there is still time to purchase tickets.

However, theatre staff are warning prospective panto-goers to book as soon as possible or face the wrath of the little ones this Christmas.

Lyceum marketing manager Philippa Unett says: “The show so far has been an outstanding success. Schoolchildren love it and make more noise than I ever thought possible.

“Although sales are bigger than ever for this year’s production we still have some availability of seats, particularly in the week between Christmas and New Year, which would make a perfect Christmas present for the family.”
. For tickets, priced £10 to £17, phone the box office on 01270 537333.
iccheshireonline

Christopher Biggins: Panto... it's not behind me! Mail