Gareth Gates will play Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk at Wolverhampton Grand at Christmas 2017.
Gates was runner-up on the UK’s first Pop Idol. His theatre career has included playing Marius in the tour of Les Misérables and Willard in the 2016 tour of Footloose the Musical.
Lisa Riley, who was the Slave of the Ring in the Grand’s 2016 panto Aladdin, will be the fairy. Ian Adams, Widow Twankey in Aladdin, is Dame Trott. Black Country favourite Doreen Tipton will appear as herself and Adam C Booth who was Wishee Washee in Aladdin plays Jack’s brother Simple Simon.
Doreen Tipton was crowned best pantomime newcomer at the Great British Pantomime Awards for her role as the Lazy Empress of China in Aladdin.
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Grand from Saturday 9 December until Sunday 14 January 2018.