Hailing from South Shields, Ray Spencer is the Director and resident Dame of The Customs House. In 2010 Ray was awarded the MBE for services to the arts. We chat about his comical creation Tommy The Trumpeter, when he left his beloved North East and what he thinks about the industry and the Pantomime Awards. (This episode was recorded before Charlie Raine won the award for Best Animal at the 2019 awards).

Here's a link for the pantomime Snow White at The Customs House in South Shields https://www.customshouse.co.uk/theatre/snow-white/

And here's the link to Ray's Twitter https://twitter.com/rayspencermbe

International TV presenter, artist, actor and singer Lloyd Warbey is my guest this week. We chat about his life in pantomime, becoming a musical performer and how he become the host of one of the biggest children's television shows in the world, Art Attack. 

I would like to thank Lloyd for taking the time between very energetic shows to chat for the podcast. 

You can follow Lloyd on his Twitter account

https://twitter.com/lloydwarbey

And you can book tickets to see Lloyd this Christmas in Pantomime at Royal Tunbridge Wells https://www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk/whats-on/peter-pan

Speaking backstage in between performances of Disney's Aladdin, Leon Craig tells me all about his career, influences, his Dame costumes and the audition process to be in one of the biggest and most spectacular shows in London’s West End. 

You can see Leon's very insightful Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leoncraigofficial 

Details of his latest pantomime appearance will be updated here soon!

Finalist of Britain's Got Talent, impersonator and comedian Danny Posthill is this weeks guest. We chat about his time on the show, his transfer from comic to Dame and what Diane Abbott did to him.

You can follow and see lots of hilarious videos on Twitter

https://twitter.com/posthilldanny

and here's the link to his 2019 Edinburgh Fringe show at Frankenstein's Bier Keller https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/danny-posthill-is-that-bloke-who-does-voices

Showman, Story Teller and Pantomime performer Gary Bridgens shares his story in this episode. 

Here's a link to Gary's website and his diary where you can find out where he's performing 

https://garybridgens.com

Here's his Twitter link

https://twitter.com/gacko666 

And here's the link for tickets to Aladdin at The Georgian Theatre Royal (they also have the most amazing tours too) http://www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk/Shows/Aladdin.aspx

Comedy giants The Grumbleweeds have been a household name since the 1960's. In 2014  James Brandon joined Robin Colvill to reinvent the act which is filling theatres and delighting pantomime audiences throughout the year. 

I would like to thank the 'boys' for taking time out of their busy schedule to record this podcast. 

Find more about where they are performing next on their website https://www.grumbleweedsofficial.com

You can also find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheGrumbleweeds/

and Twitter https://twitter.com/grumbleweedsuk

National Treasure and comedy legend Paul Chuckle is my guest this week on The Panto Podcast. In this episode Paul tells of how a football injury changed his career path, the sad loss of Barry and how Chucklevision saved a girls life.

Paul would also love for all the overseas listeners to look up Chucklevision on YouTube to see his and Barry's work. 

You can also follow Paul on his Twitter page https://twitter.com/PaulChuckle2

I would also like to personally thank Paul for being so open and honest in his podcast.

Celebrating his 30th year at the Grand Opera House in Belfast in 2019/20, my guest this week is best known in Northern Ireland as May McFetteridge. John tells me how he stumbled his way to become the larger than life character. We talk about how he came up with the characters name and about what it was like performing shows during the troubles.

And also try and spot which key character from pantomime we both forgot about when we were against the clock choosing his Dream Panto (whoops).

Here's a link for tickets for the 2019/20 Beauty and the Beast https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/beauty-and-the-beast/

Following on from last weeks episode, I meet Brian Patton. We chat about his long lasting career, all the great people he's worked with, pantomime and the location of his fathers ashes. 

Some of the stories are a little bit on the naughty side, but nothing too rude so you should be alright. Brian would also like to thank everyone for listening, and like Jimmy, would love you to view all their videos on YouTube. Also stay listening at the end for a little bit of a bonus.

Their book 'Laughing All Our Lives' is now available to buy on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/PATTON-BROTHERS-Laughing-All-Lives/dp/0244401667/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549902968&sr=8-1&keywords=patton+brothers

With a career spanning seven decades, Jimmy is one of half of the legendary Patton Brother. He talks about what life was like growing up with a father who was a successful comedian, forming a double act with his brother, then what is was like to have two more brothers watching you and how that influences them. 

There are plenty of routines of The Patton Brothers on YouTube, something that Jimmy loves and would very much like you to watch his videos.

Brian Patton's episode will be next week.