by Adam Williams

Comedian Ade Edmondson will swap pots and pans for the Marlowe Theatre panto stage this winter.

The 52-year-old, who finished runner-up in ITV reality cookery show Hell’s Kitchen last night, will play Captain Hook in Peter Pan.

Edmondson, who is married to comedienne Jennifer Saunders, is most famous for playing Vyvyan Basterd in The Young Ones and Eddie Hitler in Bottom.

Peter Pan will be produced by Evolution, who are husband and wife Paul Hendy and Emily Wood, the team behind last year’s production of Snow White.

Paul is thrilled to have Ade on board: “He is a comedy icon, a genuinely talented performer and an extremely funny man," he said.

“Over the years, the Marlowe panto has built a reputation as being one of the best in the country and I think this will be our funniest ever.

“Who’d have thought that Vyvyan from the Young Ones would end up doing the Ghost Gag routine?”

The show will take place at the specially constructed Marlowe Theatre Arena on the Kingsmead Coach Park, the panto’s temporary home during construction of the new Marlowe Theatre.

The show runs from Saturday December 5, 2009 to Sunday January 17, 2010.

Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased online at www.marlowetheatre.com or by calling the box office on 01227 787787.