Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashleigh & Pudsey team up with Jodie Prenger, Ben Faulks (aka Mr Bloom from CBeebies) regular Manchester panto favourite Tam Ryan and Eric Potts for the city’s Opera House family pantomime Dick Whittington.
Ashleigh and Pudsey, who were hailed by Simon Cowell as one of his ‘”favourite ever acts”, made their pantomime debut to great acclaim in Woking last Christmas and will be reprising their roles of Alice Fitzwarren and her faithful pooch in Manchester.
Jodie Prenger shot to fame when she won the role of Nancy in the West End revival of Oliver! in the television talent show I’d Do Anything. Since then she has demonstrated her versatility in a wide range of acting and singing roles.
BAFTA nominee and Manchester Theatre Award winner Ben Faulks is best known for his role as Mr Bloom on a hugely popular TV show that’s credited for helping to get a generation of youngsters interested in gardening. This will be his first pantomime.
Tam Ryan has become a firm favourite with Opera House audiences and critics alike and is back by popular demand for his fourth consecutive panto.
Eric Potts—who won rave reviews at the Opera House in 2009 as Widow Twankey in Aladdin—is one of Britain’s best loved panto dames, appearing in 2011 alongside Dame Edna Everage in Wimbledon. He has also written the script here.