Stars of a new pantomime in St Albans have already got into the Christmas spirit ahead of the show coming this December.

The Sleeping Beauty pantomime will go ahead at the Alban Arena, with the cast having already revealed what people can look forward to this winter.

Rita Simons is one of the stars who will be involved - and will play the wicked Queen Carabosse.

Speaking about the pantomime, the Eastenders and I’m a Celebrity star said: “I am pretty sure the turnout for the show will be full capacity.

“The last time I did the Alban Arena we were sold out and I can only imagine that with this cast the show is going to be sold out.

“I am very excited. I think Christmas is going to be funny this year.”

She will star alongside Bob Golding, who will celebrate his ninth year acting at the Alban Arena.

This year he will direct the pantomime as well as playing Nurse Nellie.

He said: “The one good thing about this year’s pantomime is that we have a lot of returning actors.

“I’m sort of part of the furniture now and hopefully we will be able to make people feel more comfortable in coming to the theatre for the first time.”

Andy Day, best known for his work on CBeebies, will also take part in the pantomime – playing Jangles at the Alban Arena.

Having played in pantomimes since he was 21, he felt that it was becoming a part of people’s “culture”.

He said: “I reckon this pantomime is going to be a record breaker.

“I do think we have a really strong cast and more and more people come and see pantomimes these days. I think it’s a part of our culture.

“It gets you into the Christmas spirit and it is great family entertainment.”

Ian Kirkby, who will play the King in the pantomime, will return to the Alan Arena for the seventh time and said that every year it is “blessed with a fantastic audience”.

He said: “I think as always the St Albans faithful will be at the show.

“There is always good support and hopefully we will see some new faces there as well.

“The show will be familiar enough from what the audience want with a pantomime.”

The pantomime will be open to the public from 6th December and will run until 5th January 2020.