Est: 2016
"He had the whole audience just wrapped around his hand (and the puppet too)"
Pantomimes and Puppets have always been the perfect partnership since day one. Over the years much loved characters from stage shows and TV programmes have joined us in the world of panto. Lets take a look at some of the best over the years...
Click a name to see what they have done in panto...
click a photo to see more
Basil Brush is an anthropomorphic fox, best known for his appearances on daytime British children's television. He is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet, but has also been depicted in animated cartoon shorts and comic strips. The character has featured on children's television since the 1960s. A mischievous character and a raconteur, Basil Brush is best known for his catchphrase "Ha Ha Ha! Boom! Boom!", used after something he finds funny, and also for speaking in a "posh" accent and manner, referring to himself as a "fella". The character claims to dislike puppets, and says his most prized possession is his "brush", this being the traditional name for a fox's tail.
BASIL BRUSH
As seen on CBBC in THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW and on CITV
1968: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Brighton
1970: Aladdin - London Palladium
1971: Cinderella - Coventry Theatre
1974: Cinderella - Wimbledon Theatre
1974: Jack and the Beanstalk - Sunderland Empire
1978: Dick Whittington - Opera House, Manchester
1979: Dick Whittington - Sunderland Empire
1980: Jack and the Beanstalk - Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
1983: Babes in the Wood - Beck Theatre, Hayes
2004: Dick Whittington - Richmond Theatre, London
2005: Dick Whittington - Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe
2006: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
2007: Cinderella - Alban Arena, St Albans
2008: Aladdin - Ipswich Regent
2009: Cinderella - Grove Theatre, Dunstable
2010: Cinderella - Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon
2011: Aladdin - Royal & Derngate, Northampton
2011: Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome
2012: Cinderella - Grand Opera House, York
2012: Dick Whittington - Portsmouth Theatre Royal
2013: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2014: Beauty and the Beast - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2015: Beauty and the Beast (Touring Easter panto)
2015: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2016: Beauty and the Beast (Touring Easter panto)
2017: Sleeping Beauty - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2018: Dick Whittington - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2019: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2019: Beauty and the Beast (Easter panto tour)
2020: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2020: The Wizard of Oz (Easter panto) - Grange Theatre, Oldham
2021: Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2021: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Majestic Theatre, Retford & Exmouth Pavilion
2022: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Bradford Playhouse
2023: Aladdin - Theatre Royal Windsor
2024: Dick Whittington - Theatre Royal Windsor
2025/26: Cinderella - Richmond Theatre, London
​​2026 (Easter): UK Tour - Mother Goose
BILL AND BEN
As seen on CBBC and CBEEBIES in BILL AND BEN THE FLOWERPOT MEN
2002: Jack & The Beanstalk - Hexagon Theatre Reading
2002: Jack & The Beanstalk - Bradford Alhambra
BODGER AND BADGER
As seen on CBBC in BODGER AND BADGER
1992: Cinderella - Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe
1993: Dick Whittington - Devonshire Park Eastbourne
1994: Cinderella - Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke
1995: Cinderella - Lewisham Theatre
1997: Jack and the Beanstalk - Devonshire Park Eastbourne
1998: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
1999: Dick Whittington - Hall for Cornwall in Truro
2000: Dick Whittington - Bournemouth Pavilion
2001: Jack and the Beanstalk - Princess Hall in Aldershot
2002: Dick Whittington - Lyceum Theare Sheffield
2003: Jack and the Beanstalk - Palace Theatre Mansfield
2005: Cinderella - Forum Theatre Billingham
DAWSON CHANCE
As seen on CBBC in BODGER AND BADGER
1971: Cinderella - Victoria Theatre, Salford
1972: Cinderella - Odeon Theatre Golders Green
1973: Cinderella - Princess Theatre Torquay
1974: Cinderella - Alexander Theatre, Toronto Canada
1975: Goldilocks and the three bears
- Alexander Theatre, Toronto Canada
1976: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Lincoln
1977: Mother Goose - Congress Theatre, Eastborne
1978: Robinson Crusoe - Richmond Theatre
1979: Robinson Crusoe - Swansea Grand
1980: Cinderella - Alexander Theatre, Toronto Canada
1981: Mother Goose - London Palladium
1982: Mother Goose - Liverpool Empire
1983: Mother Goose - Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
1984: Cinderella- Alexander Theatre, Toronto, Canada
1985: Cinderella - Lewisham Theatre, Catford
1986: Cinderella - Queen Elisabeth Theatre, Vancouver, Canada
1987: Cinderella - Manchester Palace
1988: Cinderella - Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
1989: Cinderella - Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford
1990: Cinderella - New Theatre in Cardiff
1991: Aladdin - Mayflower, Southmapton
1992: Aladdin - Birmingham Hippodrome
1993: Aladdin - New Victoria Theatre Woking
1994: Aladdin - New Theatre Plymouth
1995: Aladdin - Wimbledon Theatre
1996: Cinderella - Festival Theatre, Chichester
1997: Cinderella - Mayflower Theatre Southampton
1998: Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome
1999: Cinderella - Theatre Royal Plymouth
2001: Cinderella - Milton Keynes Theatre
2002: Cinderella - Mayflower Theatre Southampton
2003: Cinderella - Opera House Manchester
2004: Cinderella - Theatre Royal Plymouth
2005: Aladdin - Orchard Theatre Dartford
2006: Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome
2007: Cinderella - Wycombe Swan High Wycombe
2008: Cinderella - Theatre Royal Nottingham
2009: Cinderella - Cliffs Pavilion Southend
2010: Cinderella - New Theatre Cardiff
2011: Cinderella - Civic Theatre Darlington
2012: Cinderella - Grand Theatre Swansea
2013: Snow White - Cliffs Pavilion Southend
2014: Peter Pan - Orchard Theatre Dartford
2015: Peter Pan - Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe
2016: Peter Pan - Churchill Theatre Bromley
2018: Cinderella - Venue Cymru, Llandudno
2019: Aladdin - New Victoria, Woking
DOOBY DUCK
As seen on The Satellite Show
1985: Babes in the Wood - Palace Theatre Manchester
1988: Aladdin - Bristol Hippodrome
1988: Cinderella - Sunderland Empire
1988: Dick Whittington - Alhambra in Bradford
1989: Aladdin - Dominion Theatre
1989: Dick Whittington - Bristol Hippodrome
1989: Jack and the Beanstalk - Sunderland Empire
1990: Cinderella - Bristol Hippodrome
1990: Mother Goose - Sunderland Empire
1991: Aladdin - Derngate Northampton
1991: Dick Whittington - Wimbledon Theatre
1992: Aladdin - Opera House Manchester
1992: Dick Whittington - Theatre Royal Plymouth
1993: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Theatre Royal Newcastle
1994: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Darlington Civic
1994 (February): Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Grand Theatre Leeds
1995: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Wolverhampton Grand
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - Derngate Theatre, Northampton
1996: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Cliffs Pavilion
2015: Cinderella - Darlington Civic
2016: Aladdin - Crewe Lyceum
2017/18: Aladdin - Swansea Grand
EMU
As seen with ROD HULL
1972: Babes in the Wood - London Palladium
1974: Aladdin - Bristol Hippodrome
1975: Emu in Pantoland - Liverpool Empire
1976: Emu in Pantoland - Shaftsbury Theatre, London
1977: Emu in Pantoland - Coventry Theatre
1978: Emu in Pantoland - Princes Theatre, Plymouth
1979: Emu in Pantoland - Kings Theatre in Southsea
1980: Emu in Pantoland - Princess Theatre, Torquay
1981: Emu in Pantoland - Blackpool Grand
1985: Jack and the Beanstalk - Churchill Theatre, Bromley
1986: Robinson Crusoe - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
1987: Babes in the Wood - London Palladium
1988: Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs - Birmingham Alexandra
1989: Aladdin - Lewisham Theatre
1990: Cinderella - Reading Hexagon
1991: Jack & The Beanstalk - The Hawth, Crawley
1992: Robinson Crusoe - Grand Theatre, Swansea
1993: Jack and the Beanstalk - Cambridge Corn Exchange
1994: Dick Whittington - Cliffs Pavilion Southend
1995: Aladdin - Grand Opera House, Belfast
1996: Cinderella - North Wales Theatre, Llandudno
1998: Puss in Boots - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2003: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, Windsor
2009: Aladdin - Theatre Royal, Windsor
HACKER T.DOG
As seen on CBBC as MAIN PRESENTER and on BLUE PETER
2021: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- King George's Hall, Blackburn
2022: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Middleton Arena
2022: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Telford Theatres
2024: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Princess Theatre, Clacton
SPOTLIGHT ON
JAMIE
leAhey
AND CHUCK
JIMMY TAMLEY
As seen on
1989: Cinderella - Grand Theatre Wolverhampton
2014: Aladdin - Grand Opera House Belfast
2015: Cinderella - Lyceum Theatre in Crewe
ORVILLE & CUDDLES
As seen with KEITH HARRIS
1965: Puss in Boots - Swansea Grand Theatre
1973: Robinson Crusoe - New Theatre Cardiff
1974: Aladdin - Birmingham Hippodrome
1975: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Bradford Alhambra
1977: Cinderella - Ashton Tameside Theatre
1978: Babes in the Wood - Lewisham Concert Hall
1979: Little Red Riding Hood - Lewisham Concert Hall
1980: Robinson Crusoe - New Theatre, Cardiff
1981: Aladdin - Theatre Royal Nottingham
1982: Aladdin - Oxford Apollo
1984: Humpty Dumpty - Dominion Theatre London
1985: Humpty Dumpty - Birmingham Hippodrome
1986: Humpty Dumpty - Sunderland Empire
1987: Humpty Dumpty - New Theatre Hull
1988: Humpty Dumpty - Theatre Royal Nottingham
1989: Aladdin - Theatre Royal Nottingham
1990: Snow White - Cliffs Pavilion Southsea
1991: Mother Goose - Darlington Civic
1992: Mother Goose - Pavilion Theatre Rhyl
1993: Robinson Crusoe - Ayr, Gaiety Theatre
1994: Dick Whittington - Southport Theatre
1995: Aladdin - Charter Theatre, Preston
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - Weston Super Mare
1997: Jack and the Beanstalk - Dorking Halls
1998: Little Red Riding Hood - Billingham Forum
1999: Dick Whittington - Alhambra Theatre Bradford
2000: Aladdin - Floral Pavilon Brighton
2001: Cinderella - Lyceum Theatre in Crewe
2002: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wolverhamtpon Grand
2003: Dick Whittington - Fernham Hall in Fareham
2004: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Bolton Albert Halls
2005: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Ferneham Halls
2006: Aladdin - Fernham Hall in Fareham
2007: Cinderella - Fernham Hall in Fareham
2008: Dick Whittington - Ferneham Hall in Fareham
2009: Peter Pan - New Theatre Hull
2010: Dick Whittington - Birmingham Hippodrome
2011: Cinderella - Theatre Royal Plymouth
2012: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wolverhampton Grand
LENNY THE LION
As seen with TERRY HALL
1957: Babes in the Wood - Wolverhampton Grand
1959: Puss in Boots - Wolverhampton Grand
1963: A Wish for Jamie - Alhambra Glasgow
1965: A Love for Jamie - Theatre Royal Newcastle
1971: Aladdin - Golders Green Odeon
1974: Cinderella - Casino Theatre London
1980: Cinderella - New Theatre Hull
1981: Snow White - Tameside Theatre Manchester
1982: Cinderella - Cliffs Pavilion Southend
1983: Babes in the Wood - Kings Theatre Southsea
1986: Dick Whittington - Theatre Royal, Newcastle
1987: Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal Hanley
1988: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Grand Theatre Swansea
1989: Mother Goose - Wyvern Theatre in Swindon
1991: Mother Goose - Theatre Royal Brighton
1995: Aladdin - Theatre Royal Brighton
MAX FULHAM
As seen
2017: Aladdin - South Holland Centre, Spalding
2018: Aladdin - Cambridge Arts Centre
2019: Aladdin - Churchill Theatre, Bromley
2020: Jack and the Beanstalk - Lichfield Garrick
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19
2021: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, York
2022: Sleeping Beauty - Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
2024: Peter Pan - Milton Keynes Theatre
2025: Peter Pan - Mayflower, Southampton
NOBBY THE SHEEP
As seen ITVs GIMME 5 and GHOST TRAIN
1991: Mother Goose - Shaw Theatre London
1992: Goldilocks & The Three Bears - Wimbledon Theatre
NOOKIE BEAR
As seen with ROGER DE COURCEY
1978: Dick Whittington - Kings Theatre Southsea
1979: Babes in the Wood - Golders Green Hippodrome
1979: Babes in the Wood - Birmingham Hippodrome
1980: Dick Whittington - Tameside Theatre
1982: Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
1983: Dick Whittington - Davenport Theatre, Stockport
1983: Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
1985: Cinderella - Grand Theatre, Leeds
1986: Dick Whittington - Churchill Theatre, Bromley
​
OTIS THE AARDVARK
As seen on CBBC as MAIN PRESENTER
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - Derngate Theatre, Northampton
1997: Robin Hood - Cambridge Corn Exchange
1997: Robin Hood - Darlington Civic
1998: Robin Hood - Theatre Royal, Hanley
1998: Robin Hood - The Hawth, Crawley
1999: Cinderella - New Theatre, Hull
1999: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wolverhampton Grand
2000: Aladdin - Lyceum Crewe
2000: Jack and the Beanstalk - His Majestys Theatre, Aberdeen
PEGGY, PATCH and WHY BIRD
As seen on PLAYDAYS
1997: Peggy Patch & Why Bird in Aladdin - Theatre Royal Bath
1999: Poppy in Peter Pan - Princess Hall in Aldershot
2000: Why Bird in The Wizard of Oz - Princes Hall in Aldershot
RAINBOW
As seen with ZIPPY, GEORGE and BUNGLE
1987: Jack and the Beanstalk - Wolverhampton Grand
1988: Jack and the Beanstalk - New Theatre Cardiff
1989: Jack and the Beanstalk - Theatre Royal Norwich
1990: Jack and the Beanstalk - Alhambra Theatre Bradford
1991: Jack and the Beanstalk - Bournemouth Pavilion
1992: Jack and the Beanstalk - Bristol Hippodrome
1993: Aladdin - Wycombe Swan High Wycombe
(With Bungle)
1994: Cinderella - New Theatre Hull
1994: Jack and the Beanstalk - Birmingham Hippodrome
(With Bungle)
1994: Beauty and the Beast - The Hawth, Crawley
1995: Cinderella - Darlington Civic
1995: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Mansfield Palace
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - New Theatre Cardiff
(With Bungle)
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
(With Bungle)
1997: Jack and the Beanstalk - Grand Opera House Belfast
1999: Jack and the Beanstalk - Cliffs Pavilion (With Bungle)
2006: Jack and the Beanstalk - New Theatre Cardiff
2007: Jack and the Beanstalk - Grand Opera House Belfast
2016: Cinderella - The Crowns Theatre Hull
2016: Snow White - the White Rose Theatre Leeds
2017: Robin Hood (Touring Easter panto)
2025: Pinocchio (Touring Easter panto)
RIPLEY AND SCUFF
As seen with ZIPPY, GEORGE and BUNGLE
2003: Dick Whittington - Princess Hall in Aldershot
​
ROGER THE DOG
As seen with WARD ALLEN
1980: Babes in the Wood - Richmond Theatre, London
1981: Jack and the Beanstalk - Lighthouse Theatre, Poole
1982: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, Bath
1983: Cinderella - Palace Theatre, Manchester
1984: Cinderella - Wimbledon Theatre, London
1985: Cinderella - Bournemouth Pavilion
1988: Cinderella - Grand Opera House, Belfast
1989: Cinderella - New Theatre, Hull
1990: Cinderella - Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
1992: Cinderella - His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
1993: Cinderella - Lyceum Sheffield
1994: Cinderella - New Theatre, Cardiff
1995: Cinderella - Bournemouth Pavilion
1996: Aladdin - Richmond Theatre
1997: Jack and the Beanstalk - Churchill Theatre, Bromley
2000: Cinderella - Darlington Civic
2001:Snow White - Broadway Theatre, Catford
ROLAND RAT
As seen on CITV in GET UP AND GO!
1987: Dick Whittington - Liverpool Empire
1988: Babes in the Wood - Churchill Theatre Bromley
1989: Dick Whititngton - Hawth Theatre, Crawley
1990: Aladdin - Theatre Royal in Bath
1991: Dick Whittngton - Charter Theatre Preston
2002: Dick Whittington - Milton Keynes Theatre
​
SAM and PAUL ZERDIN
As seen on AMERICAN'S GOT TALENT
1993: Cinderella - Octagon Theatre Yeovil
1994: Cinderella - Charter Theatre, Preston
1995: Cinderella - World Trade Centre Dubai
1996: Jack and the Beanstalk - Barnsley Civic
1997: Snow White - Orchard Theatre Dartford
1998: Cinderella - Gordon Craig Theatre Stevenage
1999: Snow White - Floral Pavilion New Brighton
2001: Cinderella - Millfield Arts Centre Edmonton
2002: Snow White - New Theatre Hull
2003: Aladdin - Milton Keynes Theatre
2004: Aladdin - New Wimbledon Theatre
2006: Cinderella - New Victoria Woking
2007: Cinderella - Richmond Theatre
2008: Robin Hood - Birmingham Hippodrome
2009: Jack & The Beanstalk - Theatre Royal Nottingham
2010: Aladdin - Grand Theatre Wolverhampton
2011: Robinson Crusoe - New Theatre Cardiff
2012: Jack & The Beanstalk - Mayflower Southampton
2013: Snow White - Birmingham Hippodrome
2014: Jack & The Beanstalk - Birmingham Hippodrome
2015: Cinderella - Theatre Royal Plymouth
2016: Cinderella - London Palladium
2017: Dick Whittington - London Palladium
2018: Snow White - London Palladium
2019: Goldilocks and the Three Bears - London Palladium
2020: Pantoland at the Palladium - London Palladium
2021: Pantoland at the Palladium - London Palladium
2022: Jack and the Beanstalk - London Palladium
2023: Peter Pan - London Palladium
2024: Robin Hood - London Palladium
2025: Sleeping Beauty - London Palladium
SPIT THE DOG
As seen with BOB CAROLGEES
1982: Cinderella - King's Theatre, Southsea
1983: Cinderella - His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
1984: Aladdin - Palace Theatre, Manchester
1985: Aladdin - Wimbledon Theatre
1986: Aladdin - Empire Theatre, Liverpool
1989: Aladdin - Wimbledon Theatre
1991: Jack and the Beanstalk - Piccadilly Theatre, London
1992: Cinderella - Civic Hall Guildford
1993: Puss in Boots - Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
1994: Dick Whittington - Mansfield Civic
1995: Cinderella - Birmingham Hippodrome
1996: Cinderella - Victoria Theatre, Woking
1997: Cinderella - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
1999: Cinderella - New Theatre, Cardiff
2000: Cinderella - North Wales Theatre, Llandudno
2013: Jack and the Beanstalk - New Theatre, Hull
2017: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks
​
STEVE HEWLETT
As seen
1998: Aladdin - Cresset Theatre Peterborough
2000: Aladdin - Priory Meadow Theatre
2004: Aladdin - Festival Theatre Malvern
2005: Dick Whittington - Anvil Basingstoke
2012: Snow White - Wycombe Swan High Wycombe
2013: Snow White - Central Theatre Chatham
2014: Alice in Wonderland (Touring Easter panto)
2014: Robin Hood - Grove Theatre Dunstable
2021: Peter Pan - Chrysalis Theatre, Milton Keynes
2022: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - New Theatre, Cardiff
2024: Peter Pan - Theatre Royal, Nottingham
THEO THE MOUSE
As seen WENDY ABRAHAMS
2012/13: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Medina Theatre, Newport (Wendy only)
2013/14: Cinderella - Leatherhead Theatre
2014/15: Aladdin - Lemington Spa
2015/16: Cinderella - Cheltenham Everyman
2016/17: Sleeping Beauty - Oakengates Theatre Telford
2017/18: Sleeping Beauty - Middleton Arena
2021/22: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Stafford Gatehouse
PUPPET PHOTOS
