Celebrity casting for the New Theatre Royal Lincoln’s pantomime Robin Hood has been announced with TV presenter Melinda Messenger starring as Fairy Stardust.
Melinda rose to fame during the 1980s when she modelled for various artistes and designers including Vivienne Westwood. Her TV career took off in 1998 when she presented her own show, Melinda’s Big Night In on Channel 5.
Since then, she’s become a popular TV Presenter, hosting Fort Boyard (Channel 5), Loose Lips with Richard Arnold (UK Living), BBC’s To Buy or Not To Buy, ITV’s Bingo Night Live, Channel 5’s Live from Studio Five, and the popular Cowboy Builders, alongside Dominic Littlewood, which has ran since 2009.
Melinda can also be heard as a guest presenter on Talk Radio, is a regular on This Morning, Good Morning Britain, and Loose Women and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother (2002), and Dancing On Ice (2009).
“Panto is such a great Christmas theatre tradition that the whole family can enjoy, I really love the warmth and laughter it brings to everybody and can’t wait to work with Natalie and the team at the New Theatre Royal in Lincoln,” she said.
Joining Melinda, Barney Harwood returns to Lincoln as the brave hero Robin Hood. A favourite from last year’s pantomime Snow White, where he played the Huntsman, Barney will be back but this time he will have his trusty bow and arrow.
Winner of a Children’s BAFTA for Best Presenter, he was a CBBC regular from 2002 – 2017, presenting shows including Prank Patrol, Smile, Bear Behaving Badly, and Blue Peter. He also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef in 2017.
Back by popular demand, Chris Johnson will play Will Scarlet. CBBC’s “Yonko” presented on the CBBC Channel from 2010 – 2016, and voiced Dennis the Menace in Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (2013).
Chris has appeared in every Christmas and Easter pantomime at the New Theatre Royal since Cinderella in 2017, establishing him as a firm favourite with Lincoln pantomime audiences.
Speaking about returning to Lincoln Chris said: “The thought of once again spending my festive season at the New Theatre Royal makes me a very merry man indeed! In fact, I’m all aquiver!”
Rounding up the star casting is Zoe Hedge as Maid Marian. Zoe appeared on The Voice UK (2017) as one half of the duo Capital B, who were chosen to be on Sir Tom Jones’ team.
Lincoln’s longest running traditional pantomime is set to be a real adventure this Christmas season, full of laughs, boos, and audience participation for all the family to enjoy.
When asked about Robin Hood Artistic Director Natalie Hayes-Cowley said: “Robin Hood will be filled with high energy dance routines, outstanding vocalists, comedy and of course added surprises in the script for those stand out ‘wow’ moments. Perfect entertainment for all the family this festive season.”
Robin Hood will take place from Tuesday 3rd December 2019 to Sunday 5th January 2020.
