Joe Pasquale launches Wolverhampton Grand's pantomime Sleeping Beauty
Joe Pasquale arrived in Wolverhampton to officially launch this year's pantomime Sleeping Beauty, and said he couldn't wait to get back on stage in the city.
The squeaky-voiced comic joined fellow cast members Ceri Dupree and Lucy Evans at the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall Wood to launch the pantomime.
Pasquale, who was crowned King of the Jungle in ITV's I'm A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here in December 2004, said: "Panto is one of the first times children get introduced to live theatre. When I was a child, my nan took me to Peter Pan and I was amazed."
This year marks Pasquale's first appearance in panto in Wolverhampton since 1996. He said each performance would offer something different as he had 'carte blanche' to improvise.
They said audiences were in for a treat with a host of special effects including Pasquale 'flying' across stage as court jester Muddles and special lighting to bring wicked fairy Carabosse's magical skills to life.
Around 15,500 tickets have already been sold for the pantomime, which will run at the theatre in Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, from December 7 to January 19.
And as all three stars have played in the same show together over the past five years, they do not anticipate needing to begin rehearsals for the run at the Grand Theatre until the last week of November.
Variety star Ceri Dupree will play Queen Passionella and said he was looking forward to making his Grand Theatre debut.
His performance will include 17 costume changes. He said: "The costume changes are sometimes as choreographed as the performance itself. On appearing in the city, he said: "It is a very gorgeous theatre."
Stage and screen star Lucy Evans – best known for playing Lauren Wilson in Coronation Street – completes the trio in the role of Princess Beauty.
