Pamela Anderson and Paul O’Grady will be granting excited panto fans’ wishes this Christmas as they share the role of the Genie of the Lamp in the New Wimbledon theatre’s production of Aladdin.
Anderson and O’Grady are the first guest stars announced for the role which will be rotated during the show’s festive season, with Anderson making Aladdin’s dreams come true between 13 and 27 December, and O’Grady repeating the trick – though hopefully in a different costume – between 5 and 10 January.
The guest stars are joined in the cast by pantomime regular, author and adventurer Brian Blessed, who will be brewing up boos and hisses from the New Wimbledon audience as the evil Abanazar.
Anderson is one of the world’s most photographed women, who is best known for her swimsuit-wearing, float-carrying, beach-running role as CJ Parker in hugely successful 90s lifeguard drama Baywatch. Away from Baywatch, Anderson’s credits include the films Barb Wire and Scary Movie 3, and the TV series VIP and Striperella.
O’Grady is best known for hosting his C4 late afternoon chat show. The comedian, who rose to fame as Lily Savage before ditching his loveable loudmouthed Liverpudlian alter ego in favour of being himself, is no stranger to pantomime, and commented: “I am really excited to be back in panto this year having not done one for some time. This is also the first time I’ll be playing a goodie as I’ve been the villain in most of my other stage roles. Having made a living frightening children it’s probably time I aired my softer side. If I can find one in time.”
Further casting is yet to be announced for Aladdin, which opens at the New Wimbledon theatre on 10 December (previews from 4 December) and runs until 10 January.
MA