SHORE VICKY’S PHONE DETOX BID
SHOWS BOOM (OH YES THEY DO)
PANTOMIME bosses have discovered the gold in Goldilocks by raking in over £40million last year.
Two pals behind many of the country’s star-studded shows conjured up a £3million profit in the year to last March.
And Nick Thomas and Michael Harrison say panto’s best year’s are far from behind us.
Their firm’s profits have more than quadrupled since six years ago when they put on 12 shows.
This season they have overseen 32, hiring 1,000 cast and crew to entertain two million people.
Michael explained: “Sir Ian Mckellen appearing as Widow Twankey in Aladdin at the Old Vic in 2004 changed people’s perception of panto.
“Another turning point came a couple of years ago when we returned pantomime to the London Palladium after 29 years.
“An Olivier Award cemented it. We already had the public vote as they come in their tens of thousands year on year.
“This was the industry saying panto is as good as anything in the West End.”
Nick, who has staged shows for 37 years, said: “It’s a privilege to do panto and it’s the very lifeblood for many theatres.
“There’s very little that everyone – kids, parents and grandparents – can watch on telly together, but pantos are extravagant musical comedies and fit that brief. Yes, it’s profitable, but you’ve got to really love it.”
One of their productions is the
Palladium’s
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, starring Julian Clary and Paul O’grady. Jo Brand, singer Marti Pellow and Strictly’s Shirley Ballas also appear in shows staged by their company
Qdos this year.
Former puppeteer Nick,
60, and
Michael, 40, already know which city will host what next season.
Scripts are under way and some casting has been decided.
Rehearsals start in
October but lines will be altered throughout the run to stay topical.
Nick said: “The ‘he’s behind you’ gag doesn’t feature in our productions.”
Michael added: “This season everybody’s getting mileage out of Prince Andrew. You couldn’t have written that in April. We’ve thrown in things about the election,
Boris or Trump.
“Audiences like to feel they’re there on a special night where anything could happen and it’s off the cuff. Julian Clary, Billy
Pierce and Brian
Conley give you that.”
And special effects have become more important.
Nick explained: “Our partners have pioneered truly magical things to fly over audiences – dragons, a T-rex, helicopters, even a double decker bus.”
TV star Vicky Pattison has admitted she is a “slave” to her phone – and says she worries it has had a detrimental effect on her wellbeing.
The former I’m A Celebrity winner revealed she plans to detox from social media in 2020.
Vicky, 32, said: “I wake up and check social media. Before I’ve had a chance to plan what I want to achieve for the day I’m comparing myself to others. I’ll see someone who looks better in a bikini or who’s got a job I wanted and instantly I’m second guessing myself. It’s such a detrimental way to start your day. It’s so toxic.”
Geordie Shore star Vicky said she is also putting a stop to “yo-yo” dieting and excessive boozing as she starts to plan a family with her boyfriend, ex-towie star Ercan Ramadan, 36.
As a WW brand ambassador she will follow the new myww programme with her mum Caroll, so they can help motivate each other.
She said: “For years I’ve yo-yo dieted. I’m really excited about working with WW to go into 2020 with a more manageable approach. I went to the fertility clinic and was so shocked I didn’t have more information in my 20s.
“I got quite angry at myself – I’ve never had a prolonged period of sobriety in my life, not since I was legally able to drink.
“No one tells you, ‘Look after your body, it will affect your fertility when you are older.’
“If I want to conceive naturally I need a more hospitable environment for a baby to grow.”
Weight Watchers Reimagined – ww.com.