The 2016 season looks set to be the Battle of the Biggies. Earlier this month, Qdos Entertainment revealed that it will be producing Cinderella at the London Palladium, the first time the iconic panto venue has seen the genre staged since 1987, whilst Arena Panto comes to London in the form of Snow White starring Spice Girl 'Scary Spice' Mel B as the Scary Queen.
No casting has been announced for Qdos's Cinderella, but joining Mel B in the Wembley Arena panto, which will transfer from Birmingham NEC, will be Paddy McGuinness, Rylan and Strictly Come Dancing's Vincent and Flavia. Press releases indicate that producer Jon Conway has learnt from last year's Birmingham NEC Cinderella mistakes, with 2016 seeing large screens installed around the arena to enable the audience to see the production clearly, regardless of how far away they are.
The Palladium pantomime is incredibly exciting and Qdos will no doubt pull out all the stops, having already announced the commission of a brand new set. The Victoria and Albert Museum has recently digitised a number of Palladium pantomime sets, all of which can be viewed via its online portal Search the Collections. With previous set and costume designers including Erté, Charles Reading, Cynthia Tingey and the Emanuels (designers of Princess Diana's wedding dress), audiences will expect a sumptuous affair.
Of course, with the Palladium's Cinderella and Wembley Arena's Snow White, First Family Entertainment will have to provide an exemplary season for the New Wimbledon Theatre's Dick Whittington after last year's disappointing Peter Pan. Last time Dick Whittington was seen at the venue, Dame Edna Everage joined the cast as the saviour of London. Who will be the saviour of New Wimbledon's pantomime this year? Casting is yet to be announced, but First Family Entertainment will be very aware of the need to attract a big name with the Palladium and Wembley Arena only a short train ride away.
But where does this leave the Birmingham Hippodrome? Will its crown as the Home of Pantomime be snatched? With Qdos producing both the Hippodrome and Palladium pantomimes, it will be interesting to see whether the two reunite old transfer practises should future seasons see pantomime regain a place in the Palladium's annual scheduling. School of Rock is eager to find a home in the West End, so only time will tell whether pantomime is back for good.
Around the UK, spring always sees a great amount of pantomime activity. Easter pantomimes are slowly coming to a close after a bumper year and Christmas casting announcements have rocketed as new season brochures are distributed.
In Whitley Bay, Shane Lynch takes to the stage as Abanazar, a role Brian Capron will play in Dunstable alongside Ed Petrie's Wishee Washee. In Blackpool, Barney Harwood takes on the title role, whilst in Horsham Olly Pike, Mike Goble and Richard Alan are re-united at the Capitol Theatre.
Jonny Mac joins the team at the SECC, Glasgow, Rugby star Gareth Jones and Andy Jones join John Evans in Llandudno and, rounding off the cast of the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton's Aladdin is CBeebies star Ben Faulks as the Chief of Peking Police.
Snow White appears as popular as ever with Lorraine Chase and Su Pollard giving their Wicked Queens in Bridlington and Tunbridge Wells. Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse return to Reading for another season and Rita Simons joins St Albans regular Bob Golding at the Alban Arena.
In Plymouth, Lesley Joseph is joined by Duncan James in his third pantomime season, whilst Warwick Davis leads the cast in Woking and Jorgie Porter stars as Snow White in Liverpool.
With Hull New Theatre closed for renovation, David Lee will produce Cinderella at the Three Crowns Theatre Hull, based at the KC Lightstream Stadium, with Little Wolf having been announced as pantomime providers for Loughborough Town Hall's next three seasons.
In Belfast, Gareth Gates joins the Grand Dame of the Grand Opera House May McFettridge with Jonathan Wilkes and Christian Patterson returning to Stoke-on-Trent for another season at the Regent Theatre.
Gregor Fisher teams up with Tony Roper as the Ugly Sisters at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, where Des Clarke will celebrate his fifth season as Buttons, a role William Caulfield will take to the stage at the Millennium Forum, Derry. Rounding off this month's Cinderella casting is the announcement that Linda Robson, Louie Spence and Bobby Davro will play Fairy Godmother, Dandini and Buttons at the Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe.
John Altman is set to scare children as Captain Hook in Stockport, a role Darren Day will play at the Bradford Alhambra alongside Billy Pearce's Smee. Mike Doyle joins David Hasselhoff in Cardiff as Mrs Smee and Union J's Jaymi Hensley takes the title role at the White Rock Theatre, Hastings.
In Canterbury, Stephen Mulhern returns for another season at the Marlowe Theatre in Dick Whittington alongside regulars Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett, with Aberdeen's Dick McWhittington welcoming back Elaine C Smith, Alan McHugh and Jordan Young.
A cast change for the Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks sees Ricky Norwood replace Joe Tracini as Chester the Jester in Sleeping Beauty, which also stars '90s girl-group Cleopatra as the Good Fairies, with Rebecca Keatley, Sam Rabone and Ben Thornton announced for Evolution Productions' first pantomime at the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield.
Danny Walters, Lola Saunders and Kurtis Stacey star in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Forum Theatre, Billingham with Simon Webbe and Ashleigh and Pudsey appearing as Jack and the Princess in Northampton. Anne Hegerty and Sam Callaham will star as Blackweed and Jack.
The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow is sticking with its Christmas-themed pantos for 2016 with Elfie's Christmas Adventure starring a whole host of Scottish panto stars including Liam Dolan, Craig Glover, Nicola Park, Stephen Purdon and Grado and the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich is also continuing to expand its portfolio of titles with Sinbad.
Sadly, these past two months saw the passing of Ronnie Corbett and Paul Daniels, two performers who frequently starred in pantomime during their careers. Nigel Ellacott's tribute to Corbett can be found in Its-Behind-You's Green Room with a full obituary for Daniels available via the BBC. Our thoughts go out their family and friends.
Don't forget to keep checking the British Theatre Guide's Panto Auditions and Creative / Technical Positions page for details on job opportunities and auditions for younger performers to get involved in the season ahead and if you're not already, follow us on Twitter @BritTheatreGuide, like us on Facebook and sign up to our newsletter to be kept up to date with all the latest theatre news and reviews.