Panto stars fly into Birmingham to launch Peter Pan - with pictures

Stars of Birmingham Hippodrome’s high-flying pantomime adventure, Peter Pan arrived at the theatre this week for a first glimpse at the festive show.

Jaymi Hensley as Peter Pan, Jimmy Osmond and Captain Hook, Meera Syal as The Magical Mermaid and Matt Slack as Smee

Award-winning Black Country writer and actress Meera Syal will be the star of the show when Birmingham Hippodrome stages ‘the UK’s biggest pantomime’ this Christmas.

The Wolverhampton star joined fellow cast members Jimmy Osmond, Matt Slack and boy band star Jaymi Hensley, from Union J for the launch of Peter Pan yesterday.

Jimmy Osmond as Captain Hook and Wolverhampton's Meera Syal as The Magical Mermaid

The show will run from mid-December 18 until the end of January and producers promised ‘the UK’s biggest and best pantomime’.

Wolverhampton-born Meera, best known for her roles in TV shows Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42, will take on the role of the Magical Mermaid in what will be her pantomime debut.

Jimmy Osmond and Meera Syal in costume for this year’s Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime, Peter Pan, opening on December 18

Matt Slack, who is enjoying a run of six successive pantomimes in Birmingham, said he couldn’t wait to get started. He said: “People always ask me how are we going to top the show from the previous year.

"Well, last year’s was certainly great, with a brilliant cast and people like Beverley Knight.

"But this year’s really is going to be exceptional. We’ve got a lot of surprises in store.”

Jaymi Hensley as Peter Pan and Jimmy Osmond as Captain Hook

Jimmy Osmond, who will be Captain Hook, said it was a dream job to land a role in the Hippodrome pantomime because it was the biggest in the UK. He said: “I’ve done eight pantomimes and this will be the biggest.

"The producers contacted me, rather than me chasing it, which is great. I have to say, I’m delighted to be back in Birmingham.

“I always enjoy a very warm reception when I come here. I’ve had some great times in the city over the years, playing concerts and appearing at the Hippodrome in Chicago and Grease. So it’s wonderful to be back. It feels like home.”

X Factor star Jaymi Hensley said he’d be working with Union J until the curtain went up on the pantomime before returning to the band afterwards for a busy spring.

He said: “This is literally the biggest pantomime in the UK.”

Peter Pan comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from December 19 to January 27.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.