EDDIE Howe, chavs on Poole High Street, songs by Madness, Queen, Harry Ramsden’s, Ylvis and Daft Punk, numerous references to EastEnders and a slight dig at Southampton.

An eclectic list, you have to agree.

Throw in a traditional villain, a princess looking for love, a myriad of costume and set changes, a never-ending stream of gags, and what do you get? The traditional Christmas pantomime at Bournemouth, that’s what.

Starring Scott Maslen (Jack Branning from Albert Square) as the bad guy Abanazar, Aladdin offers the sort of familyfriendly entertainment that has become an increasingly popular part of the festive period.

All the boxes are ticked, and often.

You love booing the baddie?

Maslen regularly appears at the start of almost every set change.

Can’t stop laughing at the man dressed as a woman in increasingly outlandish clothes with a seemingly never-ending list of innuendos? Bobby Crush – who started out as a TV star of the early 1970s – gives a tremendous performance as Widow Twanky.

Like the local references?

They start early on with the return of the now-destroyed Imax Theatre – “your monstrous carbuncle-ness” – and rarely let up.

Local celebrity Chris Jarvis, well-known for his role on CBeebies, is now in his eighth year of directing and starting in the Pavilion pantomime.

This year Jarvis plays Wishee Washee and he manages to pull the whole show together superbly well.

The frequent “he’s behind you” and “oh no he isn’t” routines never fail to get the younger pantomime watchers pumping up the volume.

But the Bournemouth panto never fails to deliver something hilarious for the mums and dads as well.

Splendid reworkings of famous songs by Madness and Queen are sure to raise a laugh.

There is also more than a nod towards the current day hits – witness a hysterical rendition of Norwegian cult act Ylvis’ What Did The Fox Say?.

I never knew there was a ghost in Aladdin, but one makes an appearance this time!

Throw in some great effects, most notably on Aladdin’s magic carpet ride, and a great two hours’ entertainment is assured...oh yes it is!