Stoke's best-known entertainer Jonathan Wilkes will return to the Regent Theatre this Christmas in Cinderella.
He'd taken the star role in the Potteries panto for six years before making way last December for Joe Swash who played the lead in Aladdin.
Viv and Jim Wells of Pele Productions took over last year from First Family Entertainment which had produced the annual show since 2005. FFE will also return in December.
Mike Keane, the Regent's general manager, said, "We're thrilled to welcome Jonny back to Stoke and the Regent Theatre.
"Jonny knows the Stoke audiences better than anyone and we're delighted that he's coming back to entertain them this Christmas."
Wilkes added, "It's great to be coming home. I missed being here last year. It just didn't seem right without my Stoke friends and family. We're coming back with a bang!"
Cinderella runs at the Regent from 13 December until 4 January.
Meanwhile, Northampton's Royal and Derngate will also be producing Cinderella at Christmas, with Bobby Davro playing Buttons.
He returns to the stage he occupied last December when he played Buttons in Aladdin.
Cinderella runs at Royal and Derngate from 7 December until 6 January 2013.