Style expert Gok Wan is to dress to impress - in his first role ever panto role.
The Leicester-born TV and fashion star is to make his pantomime debut as the Man in the Mirror in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The 38-year-old, who grew up in Whetstone, has agreed to tread the boards in the pantomime during the next festive season at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
One of his jobs in the show will be to tell the Wicked Queen - played by actress Stephanie Beacham, who played superbitch Sable in the 80's hit US TV series "Dynasty" - that she is not the fairest of them all.
Heading the cast as the handsome prince is John Partridge, who is currently starring in A Chorus Line at the London Palladium and is best known for playing the role of Christian in BBC1's soap EastEnders. West End and TV star Gary Wilmot plays the dame.
Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment's pantomime division and director of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs said: "The country's biggest pantomime deserves a stellar cast and we are thrilled to present a line-up of huge talent for this year's Christmas show.
"The superb cast, combined with top-drawer production values, stunning sets and fabulous costumes makes the Birmingham Hippodrome this year's unmissable pantomime."
Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive, Birmingham Hippodrome said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Qdos have put together one of the most spectacular casts we have had at Birmingham Hippodrome.
"This will be a production that will appeal to families of all ages and seals our reputation as the home of the UK's biggest pantomime."
Meanwhile, De Montfort Hall, in Leicester, is to stage Aladdin as its 2013 Christmas panto - bringing the traditional family entertainment back to the venue after an 18-year absence.
The last time De Montfort Hall staged a pantomime was in 1994, when families packed the 1,100-seater auditorium to see Cinderella with EastEnders star Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell.
Venue bosses expect about 42,000 tickets to be snapped up before Christmas.
General manager Antony Flint said: "I'm really pleased to be able to bring a large scale pantomime back into the city.
"I'm a huge fan of panto and want to recreate the tradition of families coming to see the De Montfort Hall panto as an intrinsic part of their Christmas celebrations. It will have everything you would expect from a panto, with an added twist here and there."
For more information about Aladdin, go to: www.demontforthall.co.uk
Tickets for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which is to run from December 19 until February 2, 2014,
are priced from £12 to £39 with discounts and concessions.
For more information call 0844 338 5000 or go to: www.birminghamhippodrome.com
