Comic and BBC presenter join theatre's panto cast

Northampton's Royal & Derngate is staging The All New Adventures of Peter Pan in December

Actor, writer and comedian John Thomson and CBeebies presenter George Webster will head up the cast of a theatre's annual pantomime.

Thomson, known for appearing in ITV series Cold Feet, will play Captain Hook in Northampton Royal & Derngate's production of The All New Adventures of Peter Pan.

CBeebies star Webster joins the cast in the role of pirate crew Starkey, while Northampton local David Breeds will be Peter Pan in the production, which will run from 5-31 December.

The show will look to build on the success of the Derngate's 2024 panto, Cinderella, which won best chereography at the UK Pantomime Awards, and saw a 12% increase in attendances.

The Derngate's 2024 pantomime of Cinderella was critically acclaimed

Gordon Cooper, who played Aldianna, an ugly sister, in Cinderella, will return to the Derngate to co-direct and play the part of Dame Dolly.

Fellow co-director, Emily Wood, said: "We are so excited to bring The All New Adventures of Peter Pan to Northampton this year.

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

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