Jack and the Beanstalk announced as Palladium panto this year starring Dawn French

Dawn French will  lead the traditional pantomime back to the London Palladium this Christmas in Jack And The Beanstalk playing Jack's mum Dame Trot in a £2 million show that will run  for five weeks from 10th December.  She will be joining regulars Julian Clary/the Spirit of the Beans, Paul Zerdin/Simon Trot, Nigel Havers/King Nigel and Gary Wilmot as Queen Nigella

Jack And The Beanstalk director and producer Michael Harrison explained that after French played the evil queen in Snow White at the venue in 2018, she had signed on for Jack. After last year`s Pantoland — a slimmed-down version of the classic panto -  this one's big. He said the giant will be a huge animatronic one with a flesh-and-blood wife, Mrs Blunderball who is the villain, and sets and costumes will be  spectacular.

The show will have an ensemble of 16 and a 12-piece orchestra. Rehearsals begin in November. 

Harrison and Clary will work on their drafts of the script. Then  visit Dawn at her Cornish home so she can add comic touches. 

 Priority tickets will go on sale this Monday, with general sale beginning on Tuesday morning,