Stars of Mayflower Theatre panto in Southampton

And with so may big names from the world of music, theatre and TV involved Dick Whittington really could be "the pantomime paved with gold!"

The spectacular cast includes soap legend Steve McFadden, funny man Bobby Davro, X Factor winner Joe McElderry, former Three Degrees diva Sheila Ferguson and Hear'say singer Suzanne Shaw.Joining them will be ultimate pantomime dame Andrew Ryan.

Soap royalty Steve McFadden will play the ultimate panto villain King Rat. It is as Walford’s most iconic tough guy Phil Mitchell in BBC’s EastEnders that Steve is best known, a role he has played for almost 30 years, winning numerous awards. In his time on Albert Square Steve has found himself embroiled in numerous high-profile storylines, including the infamous ‘Who shot Phil?’ and ‘Sharongate’ infidelity, and his recent battle with saving the Queen Vic.

Steve regularly appears in pantomime and for the last two festive seasons has worked for producers Qdos Entertainment, starring as King Rat in Dick Whittington at Birmingham Hippodrome opposite John Barrowman and The Krankies and last year headlined as Captain Hook at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in Peter Pan.

Bobby Davro is well-known for his illustrious television career which has seen him present his own series Bobby Davro on the Box, Bobby’s Sketch Pad, TV Weekly, Public Enemy Number One, Rock With Laughter and Run the Risk, and host 65 episodes of Winner Takes All. He has also appeared in EastEnders playing the loveable rogue Vinnie Monks, donned skates on Dancing on Ice, and came fourth in Celebrity Big Brother for Channel 5. No stranger to pantomime Bobby has delighted theatre audiences year after year as one of panto-land’s most sought-after comedians and will be playing Idle Jack.

Singer, songwriter and actor Joe McElderry became a household name after winning the sixth series of ITV’s The X Factor in 2009. His first single The Climb reached number one in the UK singles chart and he has released six albums since.

Joe was also a contestant on ITV’s Pop Star to Opera Star and Channel 4’s The Jump, where he won both competitions, and regularly tours the UK. In theatre he has starred in The Who’s Tommy and in pantomime for Qdos Entertainment for four seasons.

Joe, who will play the title role of Dick Whittington, returns to Southampton having previously brought his concert Saturday Night at the Movies to Mayflower Theatre, along with a successful visit in the title role of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a role he is long-associated with having toured the country in the infamous coat. Most recently he starred in the finale of the 2018 Olivier Awards singing Any Dream Will Do alongside previous Joseph alumni Jason Donovan and Lee Mead in a tribute to mark the 70th birthday of Lord Lloyd Webber.

American singer, songwriter, actress and author Sheila Ferguson joins him as Fairy Bow Bells. Best known for her music career as lead singer of the Three Degrees with hits including When Will I See You Again, Sheila has forged a successful career including musical theatre with roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Soul Train, Fame and Daddy Cool in the West End and in television, including her own sitcom Land of Hope and Gloria and appearances in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity MasterChef, The Real Marigold Hotel and is a regular panellist on ITV1’s Loose Women.

In the role of Alice Fitzwarren will be pop and television star Suzanne Shaw, who rose to fame via the popular ITV talent search Popstars and the music group Hear’Say. The band’s debut single Pure and Simple was the fastest-selling non-charitable record ever to reach number one, with sell-out tours and a record-breaking album which followed. Suzanne went on to establish herself as an actress with leading stage roles in Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Summer Holiday, White Christmas, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, appeared in various pantomimes, and starred as Eve Jenson ITV1’s Emmerdale. In 2008 she won the third series of ITV1’s popular skating show Dancing on Ice and participated in the All Stars series in 2014.

Suzanne, 37, said: "Pantomime is British theatre through and through and a massive introduction to theatre for children. My children love it: my eldest son Corey whose 14 has seen every one I've done and is a massive critic - he won't settle for anything less than something to challenge the marvel movies!Both him and my 3-year-old Rafferty will be watching."

Joe McElderry said: "I've done four pantos before and I love it!I saw this version of the show at the London Palladium last year; the sets and whole production is spectacular. I feel that doing panto is like going to therapy for Christmas- you just laugh for five weeks!"

Sheila Ferguson, who has just moved back to England after living in Mallorca for 12 years, said: "This is my 12th panto. The first time I was like a rabbit in the spotlight - like someone had shot me in the eyes . It didn't make sense to me and I didn't get it! It all fell in to pace the second year!"

Bobby Davro said: "I started doing pantos at 20 and I'm now 60 so I think this is my 36th. This is my first in Southampton and I've always wanted to do panto here as I use to do my TV show here for TVS. I'm a 36-year panto veteran; still telling jokes and my enthusiasm never wanes.

"It's such a lavish show with 5 star names, all known for different things: it's going to be the best panto in the country. "

Steve McFadden said he was looking forward to his break from his TV work: "It's nice to do a bit of theatre. It's like a break, a change, a holiday inside theatre land. It's fun and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Bobby will try and make people laugh and I will try and scare them. This is Bobby's world and I'm happy to be in it. It will be great to interact with the audience which I don't get to do in my 9-5 role."

Tickets for Dick Whittington (15 December 2018 – 6 January 2019) are on sale via Mayflower Theatre Box Office tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.