Corrie villan Andrew to play evil wizard in panto

Corrie villan Andrew to play evil wizard in panto
Corrie villan Andrew to play evil wizard in panto (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Andrew Lancel has taken a villainous new role in a pantomime. The former Coronation Street star, whose alter-ego Frank Foster was voted Villain Of The Year at the British Soap Awards this year, is to play wicked wizard Carabose in Sleeping Beauty at the Liverpool Arena. "I'm thrilled to be appearing in Liverpool and to be playing this deliciously wicked character, which also presents some great comedic opportunities in the script. Bring on the boos, I'm ready!" he said. Andrew will be joined by Bread actor Jonathon Morris as the Jester and children's TV character Fifi Forget-Me-Not as the Good Fairy, voiced by Jane Horrocks. The production, which runs from December 14 until January 6, will be staged in a specially-built, 3,000-seat heated big top on the King's Dock site as part of a Christmas Family Festival extravaganza. There will also be a rotating spinning tower castle, a 15-foot smoke-breathing dragon and a digitally animated projection of a growing forest of thorns, which envelops the castle. Producer David Lee said: "It's so important to ensure the right balance of all the elements that make a great pantomime, including pace, atmospheric music, high energy and contemporary and traditional dance styles, a talented cast and a generous sprinkling of comedy - all which this show possesses." Tickets for the panto are available on sale from June 22 at 9am from www.echoarena.com.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.