Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee to star in panto
MAGICAL entertainer Paul Daniels and his glamorous assistant wife Debbie McGee are starring in this year's pantomime at Bridlington Spa. Reporter Alexa Copeland went along to meet them when they visited the venue for a photocall.
PANTO season is almost upon us and we caught up with Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee ahead of rehearsals for their appearance in Bridlington Spa's Cinderella.
Debbie – who will play the Fairy Godmother – has never been to Bridlington before, but seasoned entertainer Paul – who will transform into Baron Hardup for the show – is no stranger to the town.
"I really can't remember how many times I've been here over the years," said Paul.
"Coming from up the coast I used to visit a lot when I was a kid, and have done plenty of magic shows at the Spa."
He admitted that after almost half a century of performing, audiences tend to merge into one.
"I have long held the belief that audiences are always the same.
"They are a mixture of thin people, fat people, happy people and sad and it is the job of the entertainer to make sure that they all have a good time.
"When you are on stage it is the same as a man looking at a river; to him it looks the same, but the water is always changing," he said, adding that he loves ad-libbing and adding his own jokes into each performance.
"It's a nightmare for the people working with me," said Paul.
"Until they get to know me and realise that I'll always include them in what I'm doing. I don't like working to a script at all."
Debbie said she was looking forward to her second season in panto and has been impressed with Bridlington so far.
"I've never been here before and it is just fantastic," she said, "When I saw the ballroom my mouth was just hanging open.
"And I'm really looking forward to getting out and about in the town.
"I have heard lots of good things about Bridlington, everyone has said that we will have a great time here."
Debbie said although the panto season is all about family fun she admitted the schedule can be gruelling.
"You do spend a lot of time in rehearsals and in make-up and you have to try hard not to catch a cold or anything like that.
"I think it feels more busy because around Christmas there's so much else you have to do with shopping and things.
"You put a lot more into panto than how it probably appears onstage," she said.
Cinderella will be showing at Bridlington Spa from Monday, December 15 until Sunday, January 4. Tickets cost between 9.50 and 17 and are available from the box office.
Concessions and family group prices are also available.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
