This week’s guest on Just Imagine is true panto legend, TV presenter, and all-round entertainer Bobby Bennett.

Bobby’s love affair with panto began at just seven years old, when he stepped onto the stage for his very first show. From that moment, he built an extraordinary career in showbusiness. In 1964, he made his mark on Opportunity Knocks, and just a few years later became a household name as the presenter of ITV’s popular children’s variety show Junior Showtime (1969–1974).

On stage, Bobby first delighted audiences in “silly billy” roles before embracing the much-loved tradition of the panto dame. His favourite role? The outrageous Dame Henrietta in Robin Crusoe, where he shared the stage with pop legend David Essex.

Panto isn’t just Bobby’s passion—it’s a family tradition. His daughter, Emma Bennett-Goodridge, now carries that same love into her role as one of Imagine’s very own Marketing Managers.

This week, Martin sits down with Pravesh Kumar, Artistic Director of Rifco Theatre Company, to talk about Surinderella — his brand-new, Bollywood-inspired pantomime, touring this autumn. Produced in association with Imagine Theatre, Wolverhampton Grand, and Watford Palace, the show promises a dazzling mix of East and West.

 In the episode, Pravesh shares the story behind Rifco Theatre Company, what inspired him to reimagine the classic Cinderella tale, and why he believes panto is the perfect stage for blending his South Asian heritage with his British roots. Drawing on the shared vibrancy of early Bollywood films and traditional pantomime, Surinderella offers a fresh, contemporary twist while keeping all the beloved elements that make panto magical.

Pravesh hopes this production will welcome new audiences into the world of panto while delighting long-time fans. With its colourful 

This week on the podcast, Martin is joined by the brilliantly funny Jarred Christmas.

Originally from New Zealand, Jarred has called the UK home for over two decades, carving out a successful career as a stand-up comedian. He's a familiar favourite at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, where he's been delighting panto audiences since 2021.

In this episode, Jarred chats with Martin about his journey from a shy child to a confident performer, his first taste of pantomime, and how he’s had to adapt his comedic style for the unique world of panto.

This week we are going behind the scenes into the world of the DSM. We are joined by Jazmyne Evans and Kayleigh Alstin who both have a range of experience in theatre including as DSMs. 

Martin talks to them about how their interest in theatre led to working in stage management, the training they have received, how they developed in the role and just what a day in the life of a DSM is like!

This week Martin is joined by dazzling La Voix. 

La Voix will be spending her third pantomime season at Wycombe Swan this year for Imagine in Jack and the Beanstalk.

La Voix was most recently seen wowing judges in the final of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK.  No stranger to the screen she has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Celebrity Weakest Link; Queen of The Universe and in AbFab The Movie. She was a Finalist in 2014’s Britain’s Got Talent. Touring with her own shows around the UK, she is also a regular performer onboard P&O Cruise ships and had enjoyed many years performing in pantomime.  

In this episode we explore the rich, provocative history of cross-dressing in theatre with acclaimed author and performance scholar Janet Tennant, author of the book It’s a Drag: Cross Dressing in Performance. 

From ancient Greek theatre to Shakespearean stages to modern drag performers, gender has always been more fluid under the lights than many realise and has always played a significant role in pantomime in particular. 

In this episode, Janet dives into the historical and artistic significance of cross-dressing in performance — why it was necessary, how it evolved, and what it reveals about the societies behind the curtains. 

On 19 May Imagine held an open day to mark the official opening of our new home Trafalgar House. We were delighted to be able to welcome many of the people that have been instrumental in Imagine’s growth over the years as well as many of the Trafalgar team who have helped to make the move a reality.

On this episode Martin joins Sarah and Steve on a tour of the building, shares highlights from the day and talks to some of the guests about the amazing new building. 

Comedian, actor, presenter and panto legend Joe Pasquale joins Martin on the podcast this week.

 This season Joe is performing in his first ever Imagine panto, returning to Swansea Grand, where he performed panto alongside Swansea legend Kev Johns 35 years ago.

 Joe talks through his extensive and fascinating career, from early days on New Faces and being taken under the wing of comedy legends Ken Dodd, Des O’Connor and Bob Monkhouse to winning I’m A Celebrity in 2004 and taking part in Dancing on Ice. He also discusses his approach to panto, his love of the genre and how he overcame his fear of flying to become a pilot!

 Ahead of starring in Aladdin this Christmas Joe is currently touring with fellow comedians Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley and Shane Richie in The Prat Pack which sold out within a day of going on sale.

This week Simon Sladen and Robert Marsden join Martin to discuss the panto Puss in Boots.

One of the rarest pantomimes to be performed in recent times the panto is usually based on the Perrault version of the story from 1697. It is a typical rags to riches tale with baddies, fairies, skin characters, a panto dame, principal boy and a love story.

 It has a fascinating history and was central in cementing the tradition of the female principal boy with Eliza Povey playing the role in 1823 in Covent Garden and Simon and Robert discuss this history along with some of the problematic themes and morality within the story.

This week Martin is behind the scenes at the UK Pantomime Association Awards at The New Victoria Theatre in Woking. The UKPA Awards are an exciting opportunity for the industry to come together and celebrate this special art form.

Amongst others Martin talks to Anita Harris, Elaine C Smith Simon Sladen, Sam Munday-Webb, Ben Goffe, Andrew Ryan and Basil Brush about the awards and their love of the genre.