AUSSIE soap star Anne Charleston sprinkles a little fairy dust in this year’s Fareham Christmas pantomime.

She appears as the Fairy Godmother as the magical tale of Cinderella is brought to life at Ferneham Hall from tonight.

Best known for her role of Madge in Neighbours and a regular in Emmerdale, she is also a regular panto performer.

“I’ve been the Wicked Queen quite a bit lately, so I’m looking forward to going back to being good,” she said.

“I’ll have direct contact with the audience and I love the reaction of the children. They know exactly when to say ‘he’s behind you’ and when to boo and when to cheer. They completely understand.

“When I was a child it was very big in Australia, but with it being so hot over there at Christmas, people don’t want to be cooped up in the theatre.

“It’s a very British phenomenon and I’m particularly looking forward to being in Fareham because it’s where Tom Oliver (her former soap sidekick Lou Carpenter in Neighbours) was born and bred.”

Left at home by the ugliest of sisters, Cinders cannot go to the ball.

However with help from her magical Fairy Godmother and brilliant buffoonery from Buttons the most exciting night of her life is about to begin… Expect lots of slapstick fun, a magical transformation, superb costumes and a live band.

  • Cinderella runs until Sunday January 6.