Goldilocks And The Three Bears (London Palladium)

Verdict: Panto perfection ★★★★★

IT’S rare a show that’s carried on costume alone, but Julian Clary’s entrance in Goldilocks (right), in what can only be called an edifice — a pink and gold confection of plumes, wings and a skyscraper of a top hat — did it for me.

There is a panto here, but it is merely a backdrop for Clary’s succession of outfits, each more fabulous than the last. Yes, there are stars: Gary Wilmot as Dame Betty Barnum; Paul O’Grady in Child Catcher mode as Baron von Savage; a circus with elephant.

Nigel Havers is terrific as Daddy Bear, ‘afraid of being stuffed and mounted’. ‘Welcome to my world,’ murmurs Clary (maybe not one for small children). But surely, the stellar performance was off-stage: Clary’s costume designer, Hugh Durrant. Take a bow, sir!