Anne Hegerty and Josiah Eloi Will Lead JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at Fareham Live

Fareham Live has announced that TV personality and star of ITV's The Chase ANNE HEGERTY will star alongside panto dame Josiah Eloi, who is back by popular demand, in the giant panto Jack and the Beanstalk this December.

Anne Hegerty is best known as ‘The Governess' on ITV's multi-award-winning teatime game show The Chase and Channel 7's The Chase Australia, as well as presenting Britain's Brightest Family, also for ITV.  In 2018 she was a contestant on the record-breaking series of I'm A Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! and has also appeared on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Sunday Night at the London Palladium, Loose Women, This Morning, Lorraine, Celebrity Juice, DNA Journey and Cooking With the Stars. Not to mention being featured on a TV Times cover dressed as Britannia, and pretending to be Alan Carr's mother in aid of cancer research. More recently she appeared as a nosy neighbour in the short film Exorcizing Barry.

Marking her thirteenth year on stage in a Christmas panto Anne says “I last worked with the producers of the panto, Imagine Theatre, back in 2022 and they are a fantastic company so I cannot wait to be back with them. This will be my first time at Fareham Live and it looks like a great new venue. I have been a ‘goodie' for the past few years in panto but the ‘baddie' is the role that actually drives the plot – and I always get a song!”

Joining her on stage is Josiah Eloi, who wowed audiences in his dame debut at Fareham Live last year and now returns by popular demand as Dame Trott. The Portsmouth News praised his performance as “sensational to watch… unmatched comedy gold.”

On screen Josiah is known for roles including Darren in Stuffed (BBC), Little Barry Brennan in Bad Tidings (Sky), and appearances in Changing Ends (ITV). His stage work spans a wide range of pantomimes across the UK and internationally including immersive theatre with Secret Cinema and the Royal Opera House.

Explaining that pantomime was his inspiration to pursue a career in acting, Josiah is delighted to be returning to Fareham to play Dame Trott and says: “Being asked to come back to Fareham this year is an honour! I can't wait to get back down south to be part of a show that is already looking epic!”

Sheena Hulme, Venue Director at Fareham Live, said: “Audiences absolutely loved Josiah as the Dame last year and we are delighted to welcome him back to Fareham Live for Jack and the Beanstalk. With Anne Hegerty joining the cast, this year's Panto is already shaping up to be a giant festive adventure for families across the region.”

The Trotts are so poor they don't have a bean to their name and what's more, there's an evil and greedy giant terrifying the village. Will they really have to sell Buttercup, the family cow just to survive?

Join brave young Jack as he swaps his cow for a handful of magic beans, sparking an epic journey to the land of giants. Expect dazzling sets, show-stopping songs, plenty of audience participation, and more panto magic than you can shake a wand at!

This year's pantomime promises to be bigger, bolder, and funnier than ever. Whether you're a panto regular or brand new to the tradition, this is the festive treat you won't want to miss.  

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