When Jamie met Ore Oduba

J: If I understand correctly, this will be your fifth year doing Panto, having previously done Croydon in 2019, Canterbury in 2022, Northampton in 2023 and Tunbridge Wells last year. What would you say is the best thing about doing panto?

O: “The thing that I just love about panto is family, it’s the idea that for a lot of kids it’s their first foray into theatre and with that comes their parents and extended family. Knowing that in the audience there’s just generations of families having this one big day out in the calendar, full escapism, full silliness and slapstick but with this West-End quality and its absolute magic.”

J: You won Strictly back in 2016, which of your fellow 2016 Strictly stars would you pay good money to see in a panto?

O: “I would say probably Ed Balls playing the pantomime dame would definitely be something! Ed surprised us in many ways all of those years ago, so I think he would be up for it, dressed to the nines in full drag.”

J: You’ve played both a villain, and also the hero/prince character, do you prefer the nice persona or the villain?

O: “I have been a lifelong people pleaser so it feels way more natural and the idea of everybody wanting to clap you at the final bow feels a lot safer but I must admit it was a big laugh playing Abanazar last year in the Tunbridge Wells panto. I have come back to what I know best now! I thought I was too old to play the role of the prince! But to be invited at all, is the win!”

J: What’s more nerve-wracking: Craig Revel Horwood on Strictly, SAS: Who Dares Wins or a theatre full of excitable children on panto night?

O: “I would NEVER do SAS again, very glad I did it, but never again. Kids are the most discerning audience and often when it comes to those school performances they are screaming because they’ve had a breakfast of Haribo’s and Fanta. With Craig however, it’s very personal. He looks deep into your soul and you just have to take it! So that’s probably the scariest prospect to me right now.”

J: Christmas at the theatre is magical – do you have a favourite festive tradition at home?

O: “I got asked what I will be doing on Christmas Day recently and I said I’ll be cuddled up with a blanket watching all the best movies back-to-back and passing out on the sofa. It’s the one day I don’t have to do anything, nobody wants a roast cooked by me so I won’t be doing that, but of course Boxing Day is a big panto day so I will have to take it easy.”