STRICTLY star Debbie McGee takes to the panto stage following her success in the BBC programme.

Debbie, who reached the Strictly Come Dancing finals, is joined by Blus singer Antony Costa and Home And Away soap star Lynne McGranger, alson with Stuart Wade, Debbie McGee and dame Steve Wickenden in the Grand Opera House pantomime, Beauty And The Beast, this Christmas in York.

Presented by producers Three Bears Productions in their second year at the Cumberland Street theatre, the show also will feature Ken Morley, from the television series ‘Allo ‘Allo! and Coronation Street and assorted double-glazing adverts; Audrey Laybourne, formerly one of Les Dawson’s Roly Polys, and Lincoln-musical actress, model and singer Charlotte Maclachlan.

Three Bears Productions, the company run by writer-producer Chris Moreno, co-producer Russ Spencer and actor-director Stuart Wade, made their Grand Opera House debut last Christmas with Aladdin and now return with another pantomime, promising “Beauty And The Beast is sure to be the biggest and the Beast in Yorkshire”.

Expect new flying special effects with a dragon and a scary haunted bedroom scene with ghosts, ghoulies and goblins.

Lynne McGranger will complete a hattrick of panto villains at the York theatre, cast as Wizadora Crabapple after playing the Wicked Queen in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in 2009-2010 and Witch Blackweed in Jack And The Beanstalk in 2003-2004.

Stuart Wade, in his fifth Opera House panto, will take the daft lad role of Hudson, The Beast’s manservant; Debbie McGee will be in fairy mode as Adorabella Marigold Angelpie, and classy dame Steve Wickenden will play Mirabelle, Belle’s sister. Ken Morley will be Maurice, Belle’s father; Audrey Leybourne, Potty T Potts, and Charlotte MacLachlan, Belle, alias Beauty.

Mr Moreno said: “We’re delighted with this brand new production of Beauty And The Beast with some very exciting special effects and fabulous sets and costumes.”

Beauty And The Beast will run to January 7.

Tickets are on sale at atgtickets.com/york and or by calling 0844 871 3024.