Oh yes she did! Panto star helps surprise proposal

Sam Knowles proposed to girlfriend Ally Wadia during the show at York's Theatre Royal

Eastenders star Nina Wadia has helped a theatre-goer propose to his girlfriend during a pantomime in York in which the TV actress is starring.

Sam Knowles got down on one knee to pop the question to girlfriend Ally Wadia at a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk at the city's Theatre Royal.

Nina, who is Ally's aunt, was in on the surprise and introduced the couple to the crowd before Mr Knowles proposed.

Ally, who immediately accepted the marriage proposal, said her moment in the spotlight had been "just really lovely".

Nina Wadia is currently playing Fairy Sugarsnap in this year's pantomime at the Theatre Royal.

Sam and Ally, from Surrey, who both work as environmental surveyors, had gone to see the show on 9 December.

During the panto, the audience was told there was going to be a special announcement.

Nina, who has also starred in Goodness Gracious Me, Still Open All Hours and Bend it like Beckham, then introduced the pair before Sam asked his question.

Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia is starring in panto Jack and the Beanstalk

Ally said: "As soon as Nina started saying her lines, there was this huge gasp when people realised what was about to happen."

She said she had been "really shocked, but it was just really lovely".

Speaking to BBC Radio York, Sam said the proposal had been partly Nina's idea.

He said she had approached him earlier in the year and said it would be funny if he proposed during the pantomime.

He said: "That little seed rested in the back of my mind and eventually won me over and I thought, yeah, this would be a fantastic idea to do."

'Incredible moment'

Nina said: "I felt so privileged to be a part of my niece's love story.

"That actually is something that really touched me, that they would bring me in as part of this incredible moment that will be there for the rest of their lives."

Nina said she had been quite proud of herself for keeping the proposal plan under wraps for so long.

"I'm actually quite bad at keeping secrets, but I managed to not give off any vibes that anything was happening," she said.

Nina added that everyone in the theatre had goosebumps when Sam got down on one knee and the "place exploded as soon as she said yes".

She said she knew "100%" that would be her niece's answer.

"That side I was not nervous about, because I know how much Alexandra and Sam love each other."

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