News

TV fashionista Gok Wan will lead the cast of Peter Pan as The Magical Merman along with TV personality and actress Denise Welch as Captain Hook, children’s TV favourite Paul Chuckle as Starkey and comedy ventriloquist, & BGT Finalist Steve Hewlett as Smee.

Gok Wan’s TV career started with the overwhelming success of his Channel 4 series, How To Look Good Naked, which proved so successful that a further six series were filmed, as well as three series of Gok’s Fashion Fix. His other recent TV credits include Gok’s Chinese Takeaway for National Geographic, Gok’s Style Secrets, Gok Live: Stripping For Summer, Too Fat Too Young and Gok’s Teens The Naked Truth, Say Yes to the Dress Lancashire for the Discovery channel and Gok Cooks Asian.

In addition to his sartorial television appearances, Gok has solidified his reputation as a broadcaster, author and chef, most recently adding record-topping DJ to his extensive list of credentials, which saw him release his debut single, a hugely popular cover of Baby D’s Let Me Be Your Fantasy, with Kele Le Roc. Gok remains a regular guest presenter and resident fashion expert for ITV1’s This Morning and various hit television programmes.

Denise Welch has extensive TV credits including regular roles in Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Boy Meets Girls, Hollyoaks, Down to Earth, Soldier Soldier, and Spender. Denise has also made appearances in Dead Canny, Benidorm, EastEnders, Inspector George Gently, Born and Bred and The Vice.

Her theatre credits include The Gap (Hope Mill Theatre), Diana: The Musical in Concert (Hammersmith Eventim Apollo), Loose Women Live UK Tour, Calendar Girls UK Tour, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Royal Exchange Theatre), Steel Magnolias (UK Tour), Smack Family Robinson (Rose Theatre Kingston), The Ancient Secret of Youth and The Five Tibetans (Octagon Theatre Bolton), Grease (Haymarket Theatre Leicester) and Ruby in Yakety Yak at The Astoria. Alongside her acting career, Denise has been a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women since 2001.

Paul Chuckle became a household name as part of the legendary double-act The Chuckle Brothers with his beloved brother Barry. Generations have grown up with the catchphrase “to me, to you” made famous by the brothers on the BAFTA award-winning TV show ChuckleVision, which commanded prime time viewing slots for nearly three decades. Alongside his TV work, Paul is a familiar face in theatres around the country and is one of the most in-demand panto performers in the UK. When not on-stage entertaining, Paul can often be found in some of the UK’s biggest nightclubs as a popular DJ.

Comedy ventriloquist Steve Hewlett won the affection of the nation when he reached the final of the seventh season of Britain’s Got Talent. Since his BGT appearance, Steve has toured extensively, and ahead of joining Nottingham audiences this Christmas, will be touring around the UK entertaining people at festivals, theatre shows, cruise ships and holiday-makers at Butlins and Haven resorts.

Join Peter Pan and the characters you know and love this Christmas in this swashbuckling panto adventure. This family treat will include all your favourites including Tinker Bell, Wendy, John, and Michael Darling. With amazing special effects, stunning sets, beautiful costumes and barrel-loads of laughter, Peter Pan will take the whole family on a magical trip to Neverland like never before!

Peter Pan runs from Sat 7 Dec 2024 to Sun 12 Jan 2025 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Further casting for Peter Pan will be announced later in the year.