It's just two and a half months until panto season starts at the Theatre Royal. Oh yes it is. As the stars of the show arrived in Nottingham this week to launch the production, JENNIFER SCOTT met them

THERE may be no Prince Charming in this year's Theatre Royal pantomime, but the show stars an actor who certainly possesses charm by the bucketload.

Suave smoothie Nigel Havers is, of course, known for his '80s TV role as The Charmer, as well as a catalogue of period pieces including Empire Of The Sun and the Oscar-winning Chariots Of Fire.

However, his character in this year's panto – he plays the evil Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk ­– is more villainous cad than winningly rakish Englishman.

"Most actors prefer being villains," he said, as he arrived in Nottingham yesterday, together with an animatronic giant and a sprawling beanstalk to launch the panto.

"There's just more to do. It's hard work being charming all the time. I have my own way of dealing with children who boo me. I bring them up on stage and turn them upside down and give them a good shake. That usually fixes it!"

Nigel, 57, admits he has his work cut out to rival last year's record-breaking production of Cinderella which starred Brian Conley. "He's very good, isn't he?" sighed Nigel, a friend of Brian's.

However, he claims he is more than ready for the challenge. "I promise it will be a great show," he said. "We will break the box office records again. If we don't, I shall be having words with Brian!"

Luckily, he's not without support. Paul Zerdin, who has worked alongside Nigel in panto before, was part of the cast of last year's record-breaking panto in Birmingham. Paul's ventriloquism talent has seen him win fans throughout the world and he even landed a spot on The Jerry Springer Show.

Paul is an unabashed family entertainer who says he is looking forward to playing Jack – together with his regular "sidekick" Sam.

"I love panto – there's nothing else like it," he said. "There used to be a lot of snobbery among entertainers about doing pantomimes but I honestly think it's one of the greatest forms of entertainment."

Adding glamour to the line-up is Emmerdale star Jenna Louise Coleman, who will play Princess Apricot. It is Jenna's first adult panto role and she says she's hoping some of her former Emmerdale colleagues – including her boyfriend Karl Davies, who played Robert Sugden – will come along to lend rousing support.

And Andrew Ryan is set to play Dame Trot in frantically sequined costumes and metre-high wigs.

"We're really thrilled with the cast we've assembled this year," said executive producer Michael Harrison. "It doesn't seem five minutes since we were bringing the curtain down on Brian Conley but we are very much looking forward to returning to this beautiful theatre. Every year we strive to give Nottingham one of the biggest and best pantos."

Jack and the Beanstalk runs from December 5 to January 17. For more information call 0115 989 5555.