Panto mine: Rory replaces Al Porter
AL Porter will be replaced in the Olympia Theatre panto by former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan.
The producers of the Olympia Theatre Christmas Pantomime yesterday confirmed that Porter had stepped down from his lead role in the show, following allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
A statement from Pat Egan Management and the show’s producer Stuart O’Connor, confirmed: ‘Due to recent developments, Al Porter is standing aside from his role in this year’s Pantomime Polly and the Beanstalk at the Olympia Theatre.’
Porter, 24, was to star in the production, and co-wrote this year’s pantomime show alongside comedian Karl Spain. Porter has performed in the Olympia Christmas pantomime for more than a decade.
But the Irish Daily Mail has learned that Rory Cowan has been lined up to replace the under-fire comic and will be unveiled by the show’s bosses later this week.
Cowan is no stranger to pantomime and is seen as the sort of big name needed by producers to return confidence to the show, having starred alongside Alan Hughes in the Tivoli’s Cinderella.
It is understood that the Gogglebox narrator will start rehearsals this week for the role as the panto is due to kick off on Friday, December 15.
A show insider told the Mail: ‘We are all devastated at what has happened with Al. But the Olympia panto is an institution and it is in everyone’s interest that the show goes on. Rory is an old-school professional and we have a really talented writer so we will ensure that we still have a brilliant, top-quality show for the public.
‘I can’t ignore the fact that Al will be a huge loss to the production but the show and the panto traditions are bigger than any one person.’
The pantomime resignation is the latest blow to the stand-up comedian and presenter.
It is a controversy that could eventually cost Porter an estimated €500,000 in salary loss, as his contract with Today FM alone is understood to be worth €140,000 annually.
While TV3 cancelled a repeat of the sixth episode of Blind Date starring Porter, it remains to be seen if it will screen the six remaining shows scheduled to be aired in February.