Birmingham Hippodrome has announced the second city’s very own Alison Hammond will be returning to panto for a second year to play the Magical Mermaid in the high-flying panto adventure, Peter Pan.
Alison will be starring alongside Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack, seeing the much-loved pair reunite for another year of panto hijinks and hilarity. Featuring a dazzling set and Olivier-nominated costumes from The London Palladium production, plus a boat load of laughter, Peter Pan will take you on a swashbuckling trip to Neverland like never before!
Adored for her quick wit, big heart and infamous laugh, Alison is one of the UK’s most popular TV presenters, famed for her hilarious celebrity interviews! Alison owns the Friday sofa alongside Dermot O’Leary on ITV’s This Morning, gearing viewers up for the weekend. Alison also co-hosts the ultimate televised baking battle, The Great British Bake Off and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for C4, receiving a nomination for the ‘Entertainment Performance’ category in the 2024 RTS Programme Awards with Noel Fielding. As a firm family favourite into the evening schedule, Alison is a Team Captain on Sky TV’s Rob Beckett’s Smart TV and earlier this year Alison was honoured to be able to continue the late, great Paul O’Grady’s legacy and host For the Love of Dogs for Battersea Dogs Home and ITV, a role she is delighted to be chosen for.
Alison said: “Birmingham…..I’m back! I’m SO excited to return to the Hippodrome this Christmas in Peter Pan as the Magical Mermaid alongside the hilarious Matt Slack.
“I loved every second of Jack and the Beanstalk last year, we had so much fun, but it went by so fast that I had to come back for another. Birmingham is home to the best audiences, and I can’t wait to see them all in Neverland soon!”
She once again joins Matt Slack, who has established himself as one of the country’s leading pantomime comics, most recently winning Best Comic at the UK Pantomime Awards for his performance in last year’s production Jack and the Beanstalk. Matt returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for his 11th consecutive year, with Peter Pan marking his 22nd pantomime. Jon Gilchrist, Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are extremely excited to welcome back Birmingham legend Alison Hammond to the Hippodrome for our panto this December.
“The audience reaction to Alison last year was incredible and we know that she is going to be a fantastic addition to the Peter Pan cast as the Magical Mermaid. Panto is such a special time of year, and we love seeing families and friends come together to share in the magic of live performance over the festive season.”
Chief Executive of Crossroads Pantomimes, Michael Harrison, who will produce and direct Peter Pan said: “I’m so pleased that Alison has agreed to join us again at the Hippodrome for a second season.
“Alison is a born entertainer who was a triumph last year with audiences, and much-loved by all of us involved in making the Birmingham panto. With Alison, the comic talent of Matt Slack and the spectacular set and costumes debuted at The London Palladium last Christmas all in place, we're set for our biggest and most exciting Birmingham panto yet!"
Join Peter Pan in this high-flying swashbuckling adventure that will include all your favourites from Neverland including Tinker Bell, Wendy, John and Michael Darling, for a magical journey the whole family will love. There will be a range of Audio Described, Captioned, BSL interpreted and relaxed performances throughout the season, to find out more, head to the Hippodrome’s accessible performances web page.
Peter Pan runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Sat 21 Dec 2024 until Sun 2 Feb 2025. Further casting to be announced later in the year.
