Soap-star royalty arrived in Birmingham this week as Britain’s favourite soap baddie, Steve McFadden paid an exclusive visit to the city’s premiere theatre in countdown to the arrival of Birmingham’s biggest panto!

Best known for playing ‘hard man’ Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, STEVE MCFADDEN will swap the streets of Albert Square for the sewers of London this Christmas in the role of the villainous King Rat in Dick Whittington, running at Birmingham Hippodrome from Mon 19 Dec 2016 – Sun 29 Jan 2017.

Joining Steve for a fairy tale-themed photo call in Southside on Tuesday 27th Sept was fellow panto co-star and life-long friend, MATT SLACK who returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for the fourth consecutive year this year in the role of ‘Idle Jack’.

Joining Steve and Matt on stage this Christmas will be Torchwood and musical theatre star John Barrowman in the title role of Dick Whittington. Adding a touch of West End sparkle to proceedings, actress and singer JODIE PRENGER stars as Fairy Bow Bells. She will be joined by legendary comedy duo, THE KRANKIES as Councillor and Jimmy Krankie. Completing the cast and also returning after last year’s appearance in Aladdin is Birmingham’s favourite panto dame ANDREW RYAN, who will don even more of his amazing frocks in the role of Sarah the Cook.

STEVE MCFADDEN joined EastEnders at the beginning of 1990, at the same time as Ross Kemp, who played Phil’s younger brother Grant Mitchell. During that time, his character has been involved in numerous ratings-pulling storylines such as Sharongate (where it was revealed that he had an affair with his brother’s wife Sharon) in 1994, and the most notable Who Shot Phil? storyline in March 2001 where his character was shot and wounded by a mystery attacker. The identity of the attacker was revealed weeks later as Phil’s girlfriend Lisa. As of 2015 he is still in the series and is now one of the longest serving members of its cast.

Steve has appeared in numerous pantomimes since 2003 with roles which include Captain Hook in Peter Pan at High Wycombe Swan theatre in 2012/2013 and Abanazar in Aladdin at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford.

Following a record-breaking and highly acclaimed season with Aladdin, seen by over 119,000 theatregoers, the home of Birmingham pantomime this year presents an unmissable production of the rags-to-riches tale Dick Whittington.

A spectacle on par with any West End show, audiences can expect plenty of laughs, outrageous costume, special effects and hilarious entertainment for all the family! This is one Christmas treat you won’t want to miss!