THERE was a September snowfall outside the Alhambra today, when the stars of this year’s pantomime stepped out of a glass carriage.

The show, Cinderella, is a family affair for Fairy Godmother Coleen Nolan, whose son Shane will be joining her on stage as Dandini. Starring alongside them Billy Pearce, returning for his 19th Alhambra panto.

“When I was offered this panto, with Billy, I thought ‘I have to do this’,” said Coleen. “When it comes to panto, this is the one everyone wants to do. It’s such a beautiful theatre, my sisters have been on this stage a lot over the years so it feels special to be here.

"I’ve worked with Billy a lot over the years, he only has to walk into a room to make me laugh. I’m a terrible giggler, he’s going to have me in fits on stage.”

Coleen shot to fame with her sisters in girl group the Nolans and is a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. “I was last in Bradford with the Nolans comeback tour,” she said. “I’m so glad we did that; we enjoyed it much more than the first time around because there was no pressure. We just had a blast.”

On working with her son, Shane Nolan, in Cinderella, she joked: “He’ll have to behave or he’ll be grounded!”

Shane started out as a Bluecoat at Pontins, following his father Shane Richie’s footsteps. He went on to star in Boogie Nights - The 70s Musical and Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, and tours with his band, Nolan.

“I grew up watching Billy Pearce on stage, he makes me cry laughing,” said Shane. “I did panto with my dad a few years ago and it was a good laugh. It’ll be extra special doing it with Mum. The great thing about panto is you can have a giggle on stage, the audience expects it.

"Having said that, panto is one of the hardest things to do - 12 shows a week and it’s full one - and I’m gigging over Christmas so I’ll be coming off the Alhambra stage at 10pm then going on another stage with the band, but it’s all good fun.

“The great thing about panto is that children never forget it, you’re making memories. I have a two-year-old daughter, she’s a bit young for panto but maybe next year she’ll be into it.”

Billy was mobbed by fans at today's panto launch, at the Alhambra Studio, and shared a joke with each one of them. “I feel at home here,” he said. “As soon as the panto signs go up outside the theatre, I feel it’s mine for a little while.

“I was here watching Beautiful the other week and I sat there and looked around at this beautiful theatre and thought: ‘I’m so honoured to be part of this place, and to be on that stage every year’.

"This show gets bigger every year, we have stunning special effects. I've flown all over the stage, and above the audience, on motorbikes and flying carpets, but what children tend to remember is my little number, 'Don't touch the box....' It's the simple pleasures of panto that stay with them."

Looking ahead to his 20th anniversary at the Alhambra next year, Billy said: "I still love the fun of it, that never goes away.

"They'll be putting a brass plaque up!"

* Cinderella runs at the Alhambra from December 16 to January 28. Call (01274) 432000.