FAMILIES are invited to take a magic carpet ride to Old Peking this Christmas for the Bradford Alhambra pantomime Aladdin.

Billy Pearce will lead the cast as Wishee Washee when the panto opens on December 8 for a run that lasts until January 20.

He will perform alongside Christopher Biggins, who takes up residence of the iconic laundry starring as Widow Twankey and singer Simon Webbe in the title role of Aladdin.

Aladdin marks Billy’s 20th Alhambra Theatre pantomime, an achievement marked earlier this year at the Welcome to Yorkshire conference staged at the Alhambra Theatre, where Billy became the second-ever recipient of their Pride of Yorkshire award for his services to Bradford pantomime.

Since making his Alhambra Theatre pantomime debut in 1993, Billy has topped the bill of the Alhambra Theatre’s annual festive production for 19 years, and in that time starred alongside a host of famous faces, winning acclaim from critics and audience members alike

Having established himself on the club circuit as a stand-up comedian, he now performs year in stand-up gigs, television appearances and stage productions.

His most recent stage successes include musical The Rocky Horror Show, new comedy play Seriously Dead and children’s classic The Wind in the Willows.

This will be actor and entertainer Christopher Biggins 32nd pantomime appearance, and his 9th in Aladdin.

Since joining the BRIT award-winning boy-band Blue in 2001, Simon Webbe and his band-mates went on to sell over 14 million records worldwide, releasing five studio albums and headlining several UK tours.

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