THIS year's panto will be even bigger and better, with at least three huge stunts, according to director Ed Curtis.

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, welcomes Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this Christmas and more than 40,000 people have booked in already.

It features a star cast which includes the the city's adopted evergreen son Billy Pearce, comedy legend Paul Chuckle and multi-talented Steps star Faye Tozer.

All three were at a launch event for the production yesterday, alongside Curtis who is looking forward to the "highlight of his year".

He said: "There's something really special about Bradford and the Yorkshire audiences, which really means, it feels like for me, that I'm coming home after nine years of directing Billy here."

Last year's performance of Aladdin saw spectacular flying carpet.

But Curtis is taking it to the next level for Snow White.

He said: "The start of the show is particularly magical, with how we're doing the man in the mirror.

"We're developing effects for it.

"At the end of Act One, we've got something to top the double flying carpet from Aladdin.

"Muddles - Billy Pearce - has to find his way back to the castle from the forest and how he does that, you'll see.

"Then the third big effect, in Act 2, is the Wicked Queen's special monster - it's one for the kids."

Such special effect will all be facilitated by the comedy of Alhambra regular Pearce.

Once again he returns to Bradford, for his 21st year, and describes himself as the luckiest man alive to be performing with the likes of Paul and Faye.

In typical style, Pearce quipped: "What we're going to do is not give Paul a microphone, so he's not any competition to me."

The experienced performer then took a moment to reflect on yet another year of theatre.

He said: "My drug of choice is people's laughs. You can't get anything better than children's laughter.

"Seeing all those faces smiling and laughing, it's like Heaven.

"I wish I could put it in a bottle and when I can't do it, I'll unscrew it and have a listen."

Fellow funnyman, Paul Chuckle - who will play the Wicked Queen's Henchman - last performed in Bradford 19 years ago, and is looking forward to his return.

Last season was his first performing without late brother Barry Chuckle.

He said: "I was very apprehensive about doing it on my own last year.

"But Barry's always with me, he still is with me now, and he was telling me to go and do it.

"I did and the audience were brilliant - absolutely loved me to death and it gave me the confidence to just carry on and do everything else."

Faye Tozer, playing the Wicked Queen, says its an absolute pleasure to be working with two old-school legends in Pearce and Chuckle.

She added: "I've not played the Alhambra before, so it's the first time in this glorious beautiful theatre.

"We already know that Bradford pantomimes go down an absolute storm, it''s absolutely huge.

"I think the nice thing is, people expect me to be the Godmother or the princess or things like that and it's going to be really fun to be evil.

"It's much more fun being the baddie on stage.

"So hopefully, I will surprise a few people with how evil I can actually be and I'm expecting lots of people to heckle me, I want to hear some real big boos as soon as I walk on stage.

"This is what I'm going to try and draw from the crowd."

It was also announced that Sarah Goggins will return to play Snow White, after appearing as Princess Jasmine last Christmas and Cinderella the year before.

The production of Snow White will run from Saturday December 14, 2019 to Sunday January 26, 2020.

Tickets can be booked at: bradford-theatres.co.uk