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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2016 9:12:42 GMT
Birmingham had Julian and Lee last year so I'm not sure if either/both of them would go back next year...though they have had a habit of re-using stars in Birmingham in recent years so who knows! Julian will probably do Cinderella again and use all those costumes so I would've thought he'd go back but Lee could do any role (Prince, Aladdin etc) so he might go to another Qdos venue. I think John Barrowman will be Dick with either an International star or British Legend (i.e. Joan Collins) as Fairy Bowbells, a comedian as Idle Jack and then other big names as Rat, Dame and Alice but I can't think who would fit what role. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 19:54:00 GMT
I could see Paul Zerdin becoming their "back my popular demand" cast member next year. And rightly so, as he is pretty fantastic!  |
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Post by daniel on Jan 1, 2017 20:33:40 GMT
I could see Paul Zerdin becoming their "back my popular demand" cast member next year. And rightly so, as he is pretty fantastic! I too can see this happening, but I hope it doesn't because his script has hardly changed since he started doing panto! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 20:50:54 GMT
I could see Paul Zerdin becoming their "back my popular demand" cast member next year. And rightly so, as he is pretty fantastic! I too could see this because he was fantastic this year and as he is a ventriloquist he can do good scenes like the one he did with the audience at the start of Act 2! But it does depend on whether they want another comedian as Idle Jack as there's lots of famous comedians they could try and get. I think Nigel Havers could make a return as the Royal Tax Collector (isn't he in Dick Whittington?) but they could do the same joke they did this year with him wanting more stage time etc. Apart from them two, I doubt they would bring any other of the cast members from this year back |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 21:12:41 GMT
Long as they don't bring back Count Arthur Strong, who wore very thin very fast with the same crappy joke. He was, for me, the only downside of Cinderella. And it was awkward because the audience would be laughing at any other cast member, but then he came on and no response at all.
Keep him far away!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 21:21:56 GMT
Long as they don't bring back Count Arthur Strong, who wore very thin very fast with the same crappy joke. He was, for me, the only downside of Cinderella. And it was awkward because the audience would be laughing at any other cast member, but then he came on and no response at all. Keep him far away! Exact same response when I saw the show! Nobody laughed at him, I wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing? Definitely the only wrong casting choice and I doubt he'll being doing panto again. Because the Palladium charge huge prices for their panto I think they'll need a fresh cast that's why I think only 2 cast members could return at the very most. I'd like to see Duncan James play Dick but I think it'll be John Barrowman. Also I Alesha Dixon or Mel B could be either Fairy Bowbells or Queen Rat too with Bradley Walsh or Paul Zerdin as Idle Jack and Ashleigh and Pudsey as Alice (and her dog)? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 21:34:46 GMT
Duncan james would be a massive downgrade for the palladium.
Id suspect a big name for dick and possibly king/Queen rat and fairy. if they get the right names for these roles they won't (and dont) need to fill every role with a name.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 22:04:18 GMT
I personally wouldn't object to seeing Duncan James' Di...
Sorry, not sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 22:26:56 GMT
As it looks like FFE have gone bust/been taken over (depending on rumour) it could make next season interesting. I could see Qdos going after some of their bigger venues (Manchester, Liverpool and bristol), not sure they'd want Milton Keynes, Wimbledon etc as they are near some of their other venues
If they do it could mean qdos names being stretched even more across the country, or new names being brought into the qdos fold from ffe
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Post by longinthetooth on Jan 1, 2017 22:27:56 GMT
I actually feel sorry for Count Arthur Strong, in the way he dies the death as it were. But going back to Dick Whittington, I have a feeling it may be Barrowman (in which case count me out). I would think they would want experienced panto hands for the Palladium, enticing though some fresh names might be. Anyone fancy Marty Pellow as King Rat? (runs for cover ....)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 22:32:54 GMT
I think the trouble is, it was too much him trying to keep up with Paul O' Grady. Usually you either have a Baron or a Baroness, you don't have both! But it wasn't that he was bad, just wasn't mine or any of the other 1000+ peoples tastes.  |
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Post by daniel on Jan 1, 2017 22:33:03 GMT
As it looks like FFE have gone bust/been taken over (depending on rumour) it could make next season interesting. I could see Qdos going after some of their bigger venues (Manchester, Liverpool and bristol), not sure they'd want Milton Keynes, Wimbledon etc as they are near some of their other venues If they do it could mean qdos names being stretched even more across the country, or new names being brought into the qdos fold from ffe Have you got a source on the FFE news? I've been hearing murmurings for a while that they won't be continuing in future years, but intrigued if this has developed into something more concrete. I think, should FFE fold, it's much more likely that the pantos will fall under the general "ATG Productions" banner rather than transfer to Qdos. Given that FFE are part of ATG anyway, and with Qdos being ATG's biggest regional competition in terms of both theatre ownership and panto production, I honestly can't see them giving Qdos the panto contracts for some of their biggest venues. But time will tell I guess! |
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Post by Jon on Jan 1, 2017 23:39:45 GMT
As it looks like FFE have gone bust/been taken over (depending on rumour) it could make next season interesting. I could see Qdos going after some of their bigger venues (Manchester, Liverpool and bristol), not sure they'd want Milton Keynes, Wimbledon etc as they are near some of their other venues If they do it could mean qdos names being stretched even more across the country, or new names being brought into the qdos fold from ffe Have you got a source on the FFE news? I've been hearing murmurings for a while that they won't be continuing in future years, but intrigued if this has developed into something more concrete. I think, should FFE fold, it's much more likely that the pantos will fall under the general "ATG Productions" banner rather than transfer to Qdos. Given that FFE are part of ATG anyway, and with Qdos being ATG's biggest regional competition in terms of both theatre ownership and panto production, I honestly can't see them giving Qdos the panto contracts for some of their biggest venues. But time will tell I guess! I wonder if ATG management changes means that FFE isn't viable as a separate company, I suspect your suggestion of ATG Productions taking over from FFE if it folds is more likely than Qdos doing the pantos at ATG venues. |
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Post by daniel on Jan 1, 2017 23:48:09 GMT
Have you got a source on the FFE news? I've been hearing murmurings for a while that they won't be continuing in future years, but intrigued if this has developed into something more concrete. I think, should FFE fold, it's much more likely that the pantos will fall under the general "ATG Productions" banner rather than transfer to Qdos. Given that FFE are part of ATG anyway, and with Qdos being ATG's biggest regional competition in terms of both theatre ownership and panto production, I honestly can't see them giving Qdos the panto contracts for some of their biggest venues. But time will tell I guess! I wonder if ATG management changes means that FFE isn't viable as a separate company, I suspect your suggestion of ATG Productions taking over from FFE if it folds is more likely than Qdos doing the pantos at ATG venues. Yep I think that's the most likely thing that'll happen if FFE don't continue. |
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Post by callum on Jan 2, 2017 0:50:52 GMT
Barbara Windsor? Was expecting her to be Fairy Godmother for Cinderella, actually.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 9:23:43 GMT
As it looks like FFE have gone bust/been taken over (depending on rumour) it could make next season interesting. I could see Qdos going after some of their bigger venues (Manchester, Liverpool and bristol), not sure they'd want Milton Keynes, Wimbledon etc as they are near some of their other venues If they do it could mean qdos names being stretched even more across the country, or new names being brought into the qdos fold from ffe I'm so surprised to hear that about FFE!! I thought they did really well with their pantos because they do them in some of their biggest venues in the U.K. (Bristol, Manchester, Wimbledon, Liverpool etc). Before the panto at the Palladium returned, Wimbledon was classed as the 'home of London pantomime' and they used to get quite big stars too. I can imagine they might've lost some of their audience to the palladium this year though. I've seen many of their Wimbledon productions and they are always of high value and standard. If FFE do stop then I doubt ATG would want Qdos to take over as they are their main and only real rival in terms of panto. It'll be interesting to see what happens as I was surprised none of the FFE venues have announced their 2017/18 panto yet as they usually have by the new year. Yes maybe some of the regular FFE panto stars will turn to Qdos now. |
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Post by daniel on Jan 2, 2017 19:08:41 GMT
Okay so contrary to what I said last night, I've now been led to believe that Qdos have got the contract to produce panto next year in all 10 of ATG's venues currently with FFE pantos (Aylesbury, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Richmond, Stoke, Wimbledon and Woking).
Interesting times ahead in pantoland...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 19:11:56 GMT
Okay so contrary to what I said last night, I've now been led to believe that Qdos have got the contract to produce panto in all 10 of ATG's venues currently with FFE pantos (Aylesbury, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Stoke, Wimbledon and Woking). Interesting time ahead in pantoland. Woah!! Thank you SO much for sharing that - I find this all very interesting. I'm so surprised to hear Qdos will be producing all 10 ATG venues and that FFE have gone bust - do you know why that is? I'm interested now to hear what celebrities they put in those venues and whether the celebrities will be FFE or Qdos stars. Qdos now are the main and only really big panto company in the UK now. Again thanks for sharing that, so so interested to see it all unfold |
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Post by daniel on Jan 2, 2017 19:14:24 GMT
Okay so contrary to what I said last night, I've now been led to believe that Qdos have got the contract to produce panto in all 10 of ATG's venues currently with FFE pantos (Aylesbury, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Stoke, Wimbledon and Woking). Interesting time ahead in pantoland. Woah!! Thank you SO much for sharing that - I find this all very interesting. I'm so surprised to hear Qdos will be producing all 10 ATG venues and that FFE have gone bust - do you know why that is? I'm interested now to hear what celebrities they put in those venues and whether the celebrities will be FFE or Qdos stars. Qdos now are the main and only really big panto company in the UK now. Again thanks for sharing that, so so interested to see it all unfold That's all of the information that I have thus far - I believe an announcement is due shortly so perhaps that will explain a bit more. I would imagine that most of the FFE stars will carry on with Qdos, there are a few who may not if they've had a falling out with them, but I think to most people doing panto is doing panto. |
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Post by Jon on Jan 2, 2017 19:20:17 GMT
Okay so contrary to what I said last night, I've now been led to believe that Qdos have got the contract to produce panto next year in all 10 of ATG's venues currently with FFE pantos (Aylesbury, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Richmond, Stoke, Wimbledon and Woking). Interesting times ahead in pantoland... FFE have had a good run but I guess it was no longer viable for ATG to continue it especially now they have new people in charge. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 19:21:27 GMT
FFE are/were part of ATG, if it was unprofitable as FFE i dont see why ATG would carry on with it under another name. best to cut their losses and get in people who are able to turn a profit.
It will be a strain for Qdos though, thats a lot of extra theatres to fill and FFE didn't exactly have a lot of big names, especially regular ones
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Post by Jon on Jan 2, 2017 19:30:18 GMT
FFE are/were part of ATG, if it was unprofitable as FFE i dont see why ATG would carry on with it under another name. best to cut their losses and get in people who are able to turn a profit. It will be a strain for Qdos though, thats a lot of extra theatres to fill and FFE didn't exactly have a lot of big names, especially regular ones Qdos used to produce the pantos for the ATG venues before First Family Entertainment was set up over a decade ago so I don't think it would a strain for them. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 21:09:07 GMT
I think the thing is that people wil expect a big line up this year too. The line up for the 2015/16 panto was really good with probably the biggest and best names appearing in panto this year. People will expect just as big names this year especially at the prices they charge. I mean for a family of 4, a stalls ticket costs £300
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Post by stevej678 on Jan 2, 2017 21:29:20 GMT
The line up for the 2015/16 panto was really good with probably the biggest and best names appearing in panto this year. People will expect just as big names this year. Amanda Holden, Nigel Havers and Lee Mead - "the biggest and best names" - really? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 21:39:47 GMT
The line up for the 2015/16 panto was really good with probably the biggest and best names appearing in panto this year. People will expect just as big names this year. Amanda Holden, Nigel Havers and Lee Mead - "the biggest and best names" - really? If you compare Amanda Holden, Paul Zerdin, Paul O Grady, Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and Lee Mead are the biggest names COMPARED to other pantomimes across the country. No other panto has big names like that, whether you personally like the celebrities or not you cannot deny they are popular and big. |
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