Sherrie Hewson, Keith Harris and Orville to star in 2012 panto

Loose Women star and former Coronation Street actress Sherrie Hewson and Keith Harris and Orville will star in this year's panto at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.

The stars will headline the production of Jack and the Beanstalk, with Benidorm star Hewson playing a wicked fairy and Harris appearing as a guest star.

The panto will open at the theatre on December 8 for a six-week run.

Executive producer Jonathan Kiley said he hoped to make Jack and the Beanstalk the biggest pantomime ever to hit the Wolverhampton stage.

"We are delighted to have such a superb cast for this year's panto," he said.

"Featuring a larger than life beanstalk and one very mean giant at the top of it, this production has something for everyone – laughs, musical numbers and fabulous sets and costumes."

Tickets for the show are on sale now, priced from £19.50.

Panto bosses today said they wanted to make this year's event the biggest ever.

Last year was a record-breaking year for the show, which was also presented by theatre group Qdos Entertainment.

More than 55,000 tickets were sold for Snow White featuring Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi. Qdos will stage 24 panto runs across the UK this autumn.