As panto season returned in all its glory, after a brief (but terrible) hiatus – we wanted to remind people what this special time of year means to them and their loved ones.  So with the help of a trusty film crew, and armed with some glittering panto props – we visited Cardiff, Swindon and Bromley to find out.

Check out the results below!

And our glittering regional pantos have been opening all across the magical land!

At the Crewe Lyceum, Bobby Davro, X Factor finalist Amelia Lily and Cheshire’s best-loved panto dame Malcolm Lord star in Sleeping Beauty.

The Crewe Lyceum has also managed a casting coup thanks to a cameo appearance by lockdown sensation, Jackie Weaver, resulting in some nice national coverage in The Sun!

The council clerk, who rose to fame keeping order at a rowdy council Zoom meeting in lockdown, appears via a TV link and boots an evil fairy off a video call.

Meanwhile in Bromley, Lee Mead and Bonnie Langford star in another sparkling production of Sleepy Beauty at the Churchill Theatre (below).

Over in Cardiff, Amanda Henderson (Casualty) and Lucy Owen (BBC Wales) attended the press night at the New Theatre to see Gareth Thomas, Gareth Gates and Paul Chuckle star in panto favourite, Aladdin.

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