THE ALHAMBRA Bradford has announced the headline cast for this year's pantomime.

Jack And The Beanstalk will as usual star comedy king Billy Pearce, in his 17th Christmas season at the Bradford theatre.

Billy will play the Jack, opposite Lisa Riley as The Spirit Of The Beans, John Challis as Fleshcreep and Jake Canuso as The Broadbean.

Billy has won a British Comedy Award, Solo Comedian of the Year, Best Television Comedy Newcomer, and most recently, the Arts and Entertainment Award at the Yorkshire Awards.

He has performed in five children’s Royal Variety Shows and three Royal Variety Shows and is currently touring the UK with his stand-up show Funny Guy.

Lisa Riley entertained millions during her ten weeks in the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner Robin Windsor.

She first became a household name in the role of Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, a part she played for over seven years, winning numerous awards including Most Popular Newcomer, Funniest Person in Soap and Most Popular Young Achiever.

She has also starred in Fat Friends, presented You’ve Been Framed, and had guest roles in TV dramas such as The Bill, Waterloo Road, Doctors and Holby City.

On stage Lisa has starred in Calendar Girls, The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, Waiting For Gateaux, The Play What I Wrote and The Naked Truth.

John Challis, best known as Boycie in TV Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass, has worked in theatre and television for 50 years.

Jake Canuso is best known for his role as Mateo in the hugely-successful ITV comedy series Benidorm.

His other TV and film credits include Splash!, Hustle, Shameless, Bad Education and The Dark Knight Rises.

Jack and the Beanstalk will, like previous Alhambra pantomimes, be staged by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s largest pantomime producer.

Executive producer Michael Harrison said: “The sensational cast, combined with magnificent scenery, fabulous costumes, and the return of 3D special effects, guarantees that Jack and the Beanstalk is going to be another unmissable Alhambra Theatre panto!”

Visit bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 01274 432000 to book tickets.