BRADFORD’S favourite funnyman is returning to the Alhambra for his 20th pantomime, the Telegraph & Argus can exclusively reveal.

Hot on the heels of Cinderella, in which Billy starred alongside Coleen Nolan, the city’s panto king will be back at the Alhambra this year, playing Wishee Washee in Aladdin.

Since making his Alhambra panto debut in 1993, Billy has topped the bill of the theatre’s annual festive show for 19 years, appearing with many star names and winning praise from critics and audiences.

An established club circuit comic, Billy entertains hundreds of thousands of people each year in panto, his stand-up shows, TV appearances and stage productions. Over recent years his theatre work has included comedy drama Seriously Dead and The Wind in the Willows, and he received an award for Services to Arts and Entertainment at the Yorkshire Awards, an accolade previously won by Sir Alan Ayckbourn and the Kaiser Chiefs.

Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment, producer of the annual Alhambra panto, said:

“It’s fantastic to have Billy back in Bradford once again. Audiences adore him and we're delighted to be celebrating his 20th pantomime appearance this year. We’re already hard at work planning magical surprises and hilarious routines for him to entertain audiences with - they won’t be disappointed.”

Adam Renton, general manager of Bradford Theatres, added: “The region’s audiences have huge affection for the Alhambra’s pantomime, and in particular for Billy. Theatregoers of all ages will want to share the celebrations for his 20th Alhambra panto.”

Billy's long panto career has seen occasional dramas. He cracked a rib attached to a flying harness and once fell into the orchestra pit, leaving him with a broken toe, finger, collar-bone and sprained ankle. One year he went to casualty after slipping on ice, and was back on stage the next day. “When I told the nurse stitching my eyebrow that I was doing two shows she thought I’d lost my mind," said Billy. "Coming back to the Alhambra is like coming home. As soon as the panto sign goes up, I feel it’s mine."

* Tickets for Aladdin go on sale to Alhambra Friends, groups and schools from Monday at 10am and are on public sale from Monday, March 12 at 9am.