We’ve seen him as a gawky, teenaged market stall holder, an unlucky in love and life chip shop owner and, most recently, as a bit of a bum in a very grungey beanie hat. We’ve watched Adam Woodyatt play Ian Beale in EastEnders in any number of guises since the very beginning of the show, and now we get to see Adam play a very different role altogether – the pantomime baddie.

“The last panto I did was 18 years ago,” says Adam during a break in rehearsals, “so a fair while ago but it’s fine. I’m playing the Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Beck Theatre and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ve played Wishee Washee in Aladdin and people like that but it’s good to be the baddie,” says Adam, who was born in Walthamstow and grew up in Chingford and South Woodford. “You’ve got to make the kids boo, but you’ve got to get it so you frighten them but not so much that they run out of the theatre!

“It’s difficult to know exactly where to pitch it until you’re in front of an audience, and each audience is going to be different – I’ll just have to wait and see.”

Adam has fond memories of not only performing in panto but also of being in the audience himself as a child. “I actually went to see Sid James at the Palladium in about 1973 or 1974. I think it was Jack and the Beanstalk. Seeing him on stage has stayed with me all this time. I know some people look down their nose at panto but quite often it’s the first time ever that a kid will go to the theatre, so you’ve got to leave them with a good impression because they’re going to be your future audience.”

Adam says that, having been an actor for so long, a live audience doesn’t hold any fear for him – but the dance steps are another matter. “The choreographer is absolutely bloody brilliant – I just feel sorry that she’s got me! Captain Hook really can’t dance.”

  • Peter Pan is at The Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes from Saturday, December 15 to Sunday, January 6, 2013 at various times. Details: 020 8561 8371, www.becktheatre.org.uk