Christopher Biggins to star in 2018 Bradford Alhambra panto

Bradford favourite Billy Pearce will appear alongside none other than panto legend Christopher Biggins in the city this Christmas in what could be his final performance.

Biggins has appeared in everything from sitcoms to winning ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007.

But it is pantomime where he made his name at the age of 17 and continues to entertain thousands every year.

He will hope to do the same in Bradford in 2018 as Widow Twankey. Biggins said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing my Widow Twankey to the Alhambra this Christmas.”

He is also looking forward to performing with Billy Pearce and said, he was “thrilled” to be performing alongside the “Alhambra stalwart who is nothing less than legendary”.

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Billy will be playing Twankey’s daughter, Wishee Washee, in what will be his 20th Alhambra pantomime.The Alhambra Theatre has attracted big names across the years, with Loose Women star Coleen Nolan appearing in last year’s performance of Cinderella.

Other stars from yesteryear have included the Chuckle Brothers, puppet Sooty and, delving even further into the archives, ukulele-wielding George Formby.

General manager of Bradford Theatres, Adam Renton, is excited to add Biggins to this list and said: “I’m sure that the region’s audiences will want to welcome Biggins back to Bradford 30 years after he was last here.”

That last visit to the stage in Bradford was alongside The Krankies. His on-stage experience includes roles in Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End.

But Bradford could be his final calling after he told a national newspaper late last year that he’ll “hopefully do one more pantomime” before retiring from the stage, citing the increase in censorship putting him off.

Biggins said: “I’m very much looking forward to spending Christmas with audiences from across Yorkshire.”