Goldilocks and the Three Bears announced as London Palladium pantomime for 2019

Television presenter Matt Baker is set to make his Palladium pantomime debut this Christmas as the London Palladium stages a production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Following the successes of Cinderella, Dick Whittington and last year's Snow White, pantomime will return to the Palladium from 7^th December 2019 for a five-week run to Sunday 12th January 2020. Tickets for Goldilocks and the Three Bears go on sale next Friday, 31^st May.

Baker, known for presenting daily magazine programme The One Show, will play Joey the Clown in the show. His previous acting experience includes playing Caractacus Pott in a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Sunderland Empire, and has appeared in a number of television shows.

Several Palladium panto regulars will also be returning for the Christmas show: Paul O'Grady will play the evil ringmaster; Julian Clary will play the good ringmaster; ventriloquist Paul Zerdin will play Silly Billy; Nigel Havers will play Daddy Bear, and Gary Wilmot will play Dame Betty Barnum.

A number of 'speciality acts' will also feature, including illusionist Paul Hitchcock, high-speed rollerskating act The Skating Medini, Sascha Williams - a Rola Bola balancing act, and Europe's youngest stunt rider Peter Pavlov.

Further casting, including for the role of Goldilocks, is yet to be announced. Produced by Qdos Pantomimes, Michael Harrison will direct the show, with choreography by Karen Bruce, set by Ian Westbrook, costume by Hugh Durrant, visual special effects by The Twins FX, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Gareth Own and music by Gary Hind.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs at the London Palladium from 7^th December to 12^th January.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears tickets go on sale next Friday.