COLEEN Nolan is to star in this year’s Alhambra pantomime, the Telegraph & Argus can exclusively reveal.

Audiences will be ‘in the mood for dancing’ when the Loose Women panellist and member of chart-topping girl group The Nolans plays the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, opposite Billy Pearce – in his 19th panto at the Alhambra.

Coleen Nolan’s music career began in 1980 when, as a teenager, she joined her sisters, whose hits included I’m in the Mood for Dancing, Don’t Make Waves and Gotta Pull Myself Together.

Miss Nolan has since become a TV presenter, best known as a regular on ITV’s Loose Women and a guest presenter on This Morning. She competed in the fourth series of Dancing on Ice and released an autobiography, No Regrets. In 2012 she was a runner up on Celebrity Big Brother, and in January she returned to the house as an ‘All Star’, and won the competition.

In 2009 the Nolans brought their tour to St George’s Hall.

Yorkshire comic Billy played Smee in last year’s panto, Peter Pan, and reprises his role as Buttons in Cinderella, which will be produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer. Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division, said: “As always, we’re thrilled that Billy is back in Bradford for what promises to be yet another spectacular year, and with Coleen as Fairy Godmother this year’s show is guaranteed to be hilarious. We’re already working hard on brand new routines and special effects that will ensure audiences shall go to the ball this Christmas.”

Adam Renton, general manager of Bradford Theatres, added: “There’s no doubt that this fantastic headline cast sets Cinderella up to be another exceptional Alhambra Theatre pantomime. The fact that so many people see our pantomime each year is testimony to the huge affection Bradford audiences feel for the Alhambra Theatre’s Christmas show.

“We’re sure that when we go on sale in April, tickets will prove very popular.”

More star casting for the panto is to be announced.

l Cinderella opens at the Alhambra on December 16, running until January 28, 2018. Tickets go on sale to Bradford Theatres Friends Members and Group Bookers on Monday, March 20 at 10am and on general public sale on Monday, April 3 at 9am. Call (01274) 432000.