Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph to star in Birmingham panto

Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph have been announced as the stars of this year's pantomime, Robinson Crusoe & the Caribbean Pirates, at Birmingham Hippodrome.

And the festive spectacular has already taken £1 million in advance ticket sales, theatre bosses have said.

Brian will be returning to the theatre to perform in the swashbuckling adventure for his sixth pantomime this year.

He broke records when he appeared at the venue in Cinderella last year.

Birds of a Feather star Lesley starred in Dick Whittington in Birmingham with John Nettles in 1993, and will take on the role of The Enchantress of the Ocean in Robinson Crusoe. She described the Hippodrome as the "number one theatre in Britain" and said the show would be "magical".

Michael Harrison, executive producer of the pantomime, said: "We are delighted that Brian and Lesley, two pre-eminent figures in the world of entertainment, will head the cast."

Lesley added: "I can't wait, I'm such a big fan of pantomime and this one is going to be magical."

Funnyman Brian, who will be playing the title role of Crusoe, said: "I have often been Buttons in Cinderella, which is the quintessential perfect panto.

"But I'm pleased to be doing something different this year and delighted to be back in Birmingham."

The stars will be joined by Kathryn Rooney, from Solihull, who will be appearing in her third consecutive Hippodrome pantomime, while Andrew Ryan will play the Dame, Mrs Crusoe.

TV stars John Barrowman and The Krankies starred in a production of Robinson Crusoe in Glasgow last year, which featured a sea monster that swam out over the audience.

Brian said the mechanical monster would be "toned down" because it was scaring the younger members of the audience. The pantomime will run from December 15 to January 27.