Panto 'pinch me moment' for CBeebies presenter

George Webster (centre) joins stars Gordon Cooper as Dame Dolly and John Thomson as Captain Hook

A CBeebies presenter who is appearing in panto for the first time has described it as a "pinch me moment".

George Webster will be one of Captain Hook's pirates in The All New Adventures of Peter Pan, at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton over the festive season.

The presenter, who has Down's syndrome, says: "I'm looking forward to sword fighting, the Tinkerbell stuff - everything really, it's just so exciting."

He will join ITV Cold Feet star, actor and comedian John Thomson as Hook, while Gordon Cooper will co-direct and play the part of Dame Dolly.

The cast met for the first time on Monday - rehearsals start in November

"It's a pinch me moment, it's so exciting and I can't wait to be with John because he is a comedy legend," said Webster, who won best presenter at BAFTA's Children's Awards in 2022.

He said the cast had been very welcoming: "They've said, 'Have fun, it's going to be amazing to work with you'."

As Starky, one of the villain's henchmen, he will have to put up with a bit of booing, but "I can handle that", he added.

Theatre chief executive Jo Gordon said it will be a joy to welcome families and children to what is often a young person's very first taste of theatre

The pantomime is being produced by husband-and-wife team, Paul Hendy and Emily Wood, from Evolution Productions.

"We have all the brilliant classic pantomime elements: a beastly baddie, a heroic heroine, amazing dance routines and side-splitting comedy," said Ms Wood.

"But this time with the iconic, much-loved characters of Captain Hook and Peter Pan, not to mention, fairies, pirates and mermaids."

Jo Gordon, the theatre's chief executive, said: "We're delighted to have a great cast and company coming together for what is always such a magical time of year."

Royal & Derngate's Christmas panto will run from 5 to 31 December.