EastEnders icon and kids TV legends join Bristol Hippodrome panto as full cast announced
An EastEnders icon and two kids TV legends have been announced to be joining the cast of this year’s star-studded Bristol Hippodrome pantomime.
Charlie Brooks and Richard Cadell & Sooty will join pop star Will Young in Jack and the Beanstalk, who was announced to be making his panto debut earlier this year.
Brooks - best-known for her role as Janine Butcher in EastEnders - will play the giant’s wife, Mrs Blunderbore, while Cadell will play Silly Billy (accompanied by Sooty, of course).
It has also been announced that Bristol panto legend Andy Ford will be playing Farmer Trot, with cabaret star Ceri Dupree joining the cast as Jack’s mum, Mrs Trot, and musical theatre star Ashlyn Weekes joining as Princess Jill.
Bristol Hippodrome’s theatre director, Ben Phillips, said: “I am so excited for this year’s family Christmas treat, and Jack and the Beanstalk is the classic British pantomime!
“And what a cast we have, good, evil, glamour, comedy and family favourites. I’ll let you decide who is who!
“Bristol audiences love their family panto and with Will, Charlie, Richard and Sooty, Andy, Ceri and Ashlyn entertaining us, I’m sure we’ll be booked up quickly again!
“I’m lucky enough to see your smiling faces year on year and look forward to seeing you all again this Christmas. Oh yes I do!”
Jack and the Beanstalk will play at Bristol Hippodrome, from Saturday, December 6 2025 to Sunday, January 4 2026. For tickets, which start from £15, visit www.atgtickets.com/bristol