I sat down with the Wyvern Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast cast and asked what they love about Christmas – the best bits of Panto and who they would like to go to dinner with!
TV Personality and star of ITV’s The Chase, Anne Hegerty, joins Beauty and the Beast as Fairy Flutterby alongside comedy impressionist and Britain’s Got Talent star Paul Burling as French Frank and Swindon’s favourite dame and West End star David Ashley as Dame Fifi.
Anne, everyone knows you as a quizzer, how did panto start? I ended up opening a Twitter account in 2014 as there were so many fake accounts pretending to be me and within 10 days was invited to play an ugly sister in Cinderella – I was terrible in my first one.
What do you like about Panto? – It’s a chance to act, be silly, dress up and be a bit of a prat! Last year I had played three parts in Jack and the Beanstalk and had to do three different accents – which I enjoyed.
Why should people come and watch this year? – We have a fantastic cast, Paul is tremendous, Dash our dame is also delightful – I am looking forward to it.
If you hadn’t become a pro-quizzer what would you have done? – I was an academic proof reader and I probably still would be – Getting the job on the Chase I was in the right place at the right time, I kind of stumbled into the best job ever.
What do you think of Matt Hancock going into the jungle? – He has as much right as anyone – I was anti Matt Hancock but then he threw himself into things and brought back all the stars.
Who do you think will win – Jill (this was before she did win!)
If you could choose three ideal dinner guests, who would they be? – I was asked this in the jungle – Dr Johnson, Beethoven, Rebecca West – Me and Becky would gang up on the other two.
Paul, how did Panto start for you? – This year is my 30th panto, my first was in Snow White in Scarborough when I was a redcoat and have been doing it ever since as it is great fun, and I love it!
Known as an amazing impressionist you must have some favourites you like to perform? – as a Big Family Guy fan it has got to be Peter Griffin although Alan Carr is always a fun one to do and maybe Harry Hill, but I will always try and do something for every age group.
Other than coming to Swindon to perform in panto, what is your career highlight to date? – It has got to be Britain’s Got Talent, the arena tour that followed and getting to see the whole of the UK. Then once the tour was over I got my own Christmas Special on ITV – I didn’t see that coming! Over 4million people watched my show – WOW!
What are you looking forward to in Panto 2022? – The Swindon audience! I have heard they are very good. I also have 23 friends and neighbours coming up to support for opening night, that will be interesting and of course working with the ensemble and local performers is amazing.
If you could choose three ideal dinner guests, who would they be? – Robin Williams – my hero Kenny Dalglish – I’m a big Liverpool fan – Billy Connolly in his prime – that would be interesting
David – How is it returning to Swindon for panto? – It’s such a thrill – I love Swindon – this is my eighth panto here. I’ve been working for 36 years and the staff and crew are amazing here and the Swindon audience is just crazy – some audiences just sit back but Swindon are well up for it.
Keith Chegwin once told me – ‘I have never met anything like a Swindon audience before, they are always up for it.’
How is it meeting and working with new Panto stars? Anne and Paul are just bliss! Anne – she has a real twinkle in her eye and is so funny and Paul is really silly, how am I going to work with him? on day two we are just laughing – it’s going to be so much fun.
Can you remember your first Panto? – I have been in panto so long – I was in Linda Lusardi’s first panto – then years later I got a message to say her daughter, Lucy Kane, would be coming to work with me in Snow White. Imagine if Lucy had a daughter and I got to work with her in a few years time.
If you could choose three ideal dinner guests, who would they be? – Eddie Izzard – that would be extraordinary he is the funniest human I know – Marilyn Monroe – that would just be interesting – My Grandad – I never got to meet him.
Beauty and the Beast is on at the Wyvern Theatre from this Saturday 3rd December 2022 until Monday 2 January 2023 – Tickets can be bought online.
