The cast of the Lyric Hammersmith’s pantomime Cinderella will be expecting stockings filled with cake this Christmas, as they will be joined by the host of doughy reality TV phenomenon The Great British Bake Off, Mel Giedroyc.
The actress and presenter, who can currently be seen on a weekly basis helping amateur pie-makers through the highs and lows of competitive baking, joins a cast that includes West End regulars Julie Atherton and Steven Webb, and returning stars of last year’s Hammersmith panto, Sophia Nomvete and Hammed Animashaun.
Best known for her work alongside comedy partner Sue Perkins on shows including Light Lunch, Giedroyc has panto history, having appeared in the Barbican’s 2007 production of Jack And The Beanstalk, so she won’t ‘knead’ any help with her “He’s behind yous”. Her other stage outings include schoolboy drama New Boy and Eurovision send up Eurobeat.
The production, which is written by Joel Horwood and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, will have families booing, hissing and giggling with glee from 24 November. Prior to that the theatre will stage a distinctly contrasting production, Eugene O’Neill’s tale of lust and redemption Desire Under The Elms, which begins previews next week.