ITV Panto
The ITV Panto was a series of pantomimes originally broadcast on ITV in 1998, 2000, and 2002. All written by Simon Nye, they included an array of celebrities playing the lead roles. There were only four shows recorded; Dick Whittington in 2002 having been the final in the series.
Repeat recordings were broadcast every year on ITV2 in the run up to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the pantomimes are shown back-to-back
Pantomimes
(In order of original broadcast date)
- Jack and the Beanstalk (original broadcast: 25 December 1998) - Filmed at the Old Vic Theatre.
- Cinderella (original broadcast: 2 January 2000) - Filmed at the Brixton Academy.
- Aladdin (original broadcast: 25 December 2000) - Filmed at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
- Dick Whittington (original broadcast: 1 January 2002) - Filmed at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
All televised pantomimes are listed here:
Recurring cast members and special guest singing group
During the run of the pantomimes there were a lot of famous faces which are easy to recognise today. Some of the famous faces included:
- Julian Clary - appeared in all four shows
- Paul Merton - appeared in all four shows
- Harry Hill - appeared in two shows - Cinderella and Dick Whittington
- Griff Rhys Jones - appeared in two shows - Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin
- Richard Wilson - Sally the Cook - Dick Whittington
- Julie Walters - Jack and the Beanstalk
- Denise van Outen - Jill - Jack and the Beanstalk
- Alexander Armstrong - Prince Charming - Cinderella
- Ben Miller - Dandini - Cinderella
- Frank Skinner - Buttons - Cinderella
- Kevin Bishop - Dick Whittington - Dick Whittington
- James Fleet - Alderman Fitzwarren - Dick Whittington
- Lee Mack - Idle Jack - Dick Whittington
As well as the famous cast, two of the four shows would include a performance from famous groups of that year. The groups included were:
- S Club 7, performed Never Had a Dream Come True during the show Aladdin
- Hear’Say, performed in Dick Whittington.
Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Aladdin | |
| Aladdin | Ed Byrne |
| Genie of the Lamp | Julian Clary |
| Abanazer | Martin Clunes |
| Princess Jasmine | Patsy Kensit |
| Wishee Washee | Ralf Little |
| Spirit of the Ring | Paul Merton |
| Police chief | Billy Murray |
| Prince Hugely Suave | Leslie Phillips |
| Emperor | Griff Rhys Jones |
| Handy | Lisa Riley |
| Widow Twankey | John Savident |
| High Priestess | Meera Syal |
| S Club 7 | S Club 7 |
| Cinderella | |
| Cinderella | Samantha Womack (as Sam Janus) |
| Buttons | Frank Skinner |
| Evil Baroness | Siân Phillips |
| Griselda | Ronnie Corbett |
| Lucretia | Paul Merton |
| Dandini | Ben Miller |
| The Good Fairy | Julian Clary |
| Prince Charming | Alexander Armstrong |
| Master of Ceremonies | Harry Hill |
| Dick Whittington | |
| Dick Whittington | Kevin Bishop |
| Queen of Tonga | Amanda Barrie |
| The Major | Sanjeev Bhaskar |
| Chris the Cat | Julian Clary |
| Mrs Fitzwarren | Vanessa Feltz |
| Alderman Fitzwarren | James Fleet |
| The Painter | Harry Hill |
| Idle Jack | Lee Mack |
| Tricky Pete | Paul Merton |
| Maid of Tonga | Tina O'Brien |
| Alice Fitzwarren | Debra Stephenson |
| The Good Fairy | Jessica Hynes |
| King Rat | Mark Williams |
| Sally the Cook | Richard Wilson |
| Jack and the Beanstalk | |
| Jack | Neil Morrissey |
| Dame Dolly | Adrian Edmondson |
| Baron Wasteland | Griff Rhys Jones |
| Jill | Denise van Outen |
| Goldilocks | Morwenna Banks |
| Fairy Godmother | Julie Walters |
| First Henchman/Tim | Julian Clary |
| Second Henchman | Peter Serafinowicz |
| Harp | Will Barton |
| Cow | Vince Williams |
| John Willett | |
| Narrator | Paul Merton |