Get ready for a Christmas cracker as Brian Conley signs up for panto in Milton Keynes

The Fairy Godmother has been working overtime - and with a wave of her magic wand has secured Brian Conley for pantomime at Milton Keynes Theatre this Christmas.

The nation’s much-loved talent will assume a favourite role, starring as Buttons in Cinderella.

“Cinderella is the greatest panto of all,” he says, “It’s a wonderful story and Buttons is integral to the plot. There’s lots of pathos too...I like that.

“The story itself is just a skeleton. A good panto needs to be driven by comedy and it needs to be visual.

“It plays to all my strengths - with ad lib, music and comedy. We’ll keep it topical too!”

Qdos Entertainment will stage Cinderella throughout the festive season and into the new year.

The curtain will finally fall on the seasonal spectacular - in partnership with the Citizen - on January 14, 2018.

Brian is well-known for playing the role of Buttons, the servant of Cinderella’s father Baron Hardup.

“I love playing Buttons, and take the role into the 21st 
century - it’s Cinderella with velcro!” he says.

Brian won’t only be delivering the lines with panache, though; he wrote the script with Michael Harrison.

Harrison is managing director of Qdos, and also responsible for producing West End shows including The Bodyguard.

You really couldn’t get two names better placed to pen a wow-some panto if you tried.

Brian’s career so far spans 40 years, with numerous credits on the small screen and on the stage.

His theatre roles have included the title role in Jolson, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, and showman Barnum, which saw him walk the wire here in Milton Keynes.

Tomorrow he begins a 23-date solo tour, the terrifically titled The Greatest Entertainer (In His Price Range).

“It’s a pot-pourri of entertainment, highlighting my 
illustrious career...it’s as much fun as you can have with your clothes on, and I don’t want polite laughter - I want to see the audience uncontrollable,” Brian says.

Beyond the tour, there are Palladium spots and a trip to Australia to work in before he arrives here: “And I still like to be a dad occasionally,” he says, expressing the importance of his family time.

And, from December 9, Milton Keynes will fall under his spell, when panto pizzazz returns to Milton Keynes Theatre.

Brian says there will be lots of roarsome high-energy greatness in Cinderella, and more glitz and glamour than you would find in Beverley Hills.

If you want to treat your family to a face-achingly funny Christmas, this is the show to see.

“This show is so tuned up that it’s like a Ferrari!” he promises.

To book visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or call the box office on 0844 871 7652.