Opening night for Cinderella panto at Hippodrome

The stars of Birmingham Hippodrome's festive show were today preparing for the first night curtain-raiser.

Stars of Cinderella held their final dress rehearsal yesterday before opening night tonight.

And stars, funnyman Brian Conley as Buttons and Loose Women's Lynda Bellingham as the Fairy Godmother, said today they cannot wait to get started.

For Conley, aged 50, it is his fifth appearance at the Hippodrome.

He first made his debut in the 1992/3 production of Aladdin alongside Britt Ekland and has since gone on to enjoy record-breaking appearances.

He said: "Playing Buttons is one of my favourite characters. Panto is great because a great time is always had by all of the family and we have a great show this year."

Bellingham is making her first ever appearance in a pantomime.

The 63-year-old has had a career spanning 40 years and also appeared in the stage show of Calendar Girls at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre from October 24 to 29.

Also starring in the show as Baron Basil is Basil Brush, considered to be a national treasure of children's television.

Cinderella runs from December 17 to January 29, 2012.