SINGING star Marti Webb will be doing her Christmas shopping in Malvern in between her performances in this year's pantomime at the Malvern Theatres.

Joining the cast as the Fairy Godmother, Marti will be appearing alongside children's TV presenter Chris Jarvis, Nicholas Smith, best known as Mr Rumbold from Are You Being Served, and Sophia Thierens as Cinderella herself.

Marti said she was looking forward to returning to Malvern, after performing a concert here in 1994.

"I thought it was such a beautiful theatre," she said, "so when they asked me to come back I said I love that theatre.

"Victorian theatres really lend themselves to panto. Theatres in London would like to extend their sites the same as the theatre has done here. It's been done beautifully.

"Malvern too is beautiful and Christmas shopping here will be very dangerous."

Marti said this would be about her seventh panto, having followed a career singing in West End musicals, including Evita, Cats, Oliver and Godspell.

"I enjoy the role of the Fairy Godmother," she said. "I love it with all the children waving their little wands and in this show we have a traditional transformation scene with real Shetland ponies which will be wonderful."

Marti's young co-star Chris Jarvis, presenter on countless CBBC and CITV productions, is making his 10th panto performance following the recent completion of 50 episodes for a new TV series, Step Inside, filmed in Ross-on-Wye.

Chris said: "I set out to be an actor, going to private classes when I was at school, and all the drama groups. Then I got into presenting and fell on my feet in TV. I was very lucky.

"It's really nice to be doing Cinderella because it really does have a strong story. My character, Buttons, has a real purpose in the story which makes it great fun to play."

Nicholas Smith has taken part in about 18 pantos during his 44 acting years and has a CV as long as Baron Hardup's frock coat.

"If I won the lottery, I would still be here at Christmas," he said. "Otherwise I would miss something that I have demonstrated I can do and I love doing."

Cinderella will be on between Wednesday, December 12 and Saturday, January 5 with two performances daily except Tuesdays. Tickets are £8 to £16. Contact Malvern Theatres box office on 01684 892277.