First stars announced for Dick Whittington pantomime at Wolverhampton Grand

The duo, who starred together in TV sitcoms Hi-De-Hi, Oh, Doctor Beeching! and You Rang M'Lord? will be reunited on stage from December 7 for the Grand's 2019/20 panto.

Opening on December 7, Su will play the evil Queen Rat and Walsall-born Jeffrey will play Alderman Fitzwarren - they will both return with the Grand's much-loved panto Dame, Ian Adams, who will be back for the fourth year in a row.

Grand Theatre chief executive and artistic director Adrian Jackson said: "I am delighted that Su and Jeffrey will star in our pantomime this year.

"Su Pollard has worked extensively in theatre and television and is known and loved for her larger than life personality and infectious presence which lends itself so naturally to pantomime.

"It will be very special to reunite her onstage with her sitcom partner Jeffrey Holland who is a Grand Theatre favourite and always welcomed by our audiences. Ian Adams, winner of Best Panto Dame In The Midlands will return for a fourth consecutive year and I look forward to working him with once again.”

In what promises to be another spectacular Grand Theatre pantomime and a 125th anniversary spectacular, theatre-goers can join hero Dick Whittington as he seeks fame, fortune and happiness to become the Lord Mayor of London.

Guided by the magical Fairy Bow Bells on an adventure that sends him from London town to the High Seas headed for Morocco, can he outwit the evil Queen Rat, free London from her team of revolting rodents and win the beautiful Alice’s hand in marriage?

Su Pollard was last in a Grand Theatre pantomime an impressive 43 years ago where she played Dame in a production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

She has since appeared at the Grand Theatre as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet and as Miss Hannigan in Annie.

Jeffrey Holland, who is originally from Walsall, played Dame in the Grand’s 1999 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk and most recently played Danny in the Grand Theatre’s in-house production of Brassed Off. He is best known for his performance as Spike in Hi-De-Hi but has also enjoyed a lengthy stage and TV career.

Ian Adams returns having starred in Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty, winning Best Pantomime Dame in the Midlands in the What’s On Readers Awards – the same awards in which the Grand Theatre pantomime has won Best Pantomime for the past two years and is currently nominated in the same category for a third year running.

Tickets for Dick Whittington are now on sale - the performance runs from Saturday, December 7 2019 to Sunday, January 12 2020.

Book now in person at the theatre, by calling 01902 429 212 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk