A former X-Factor star who one the hearts of the British public will be staring in this year’s panto, Beauty and the Beast.

Singing sensation Stevi Ritchie will be joining the cast in Chatham for the annual pantomime and will star alongside Sue Holderness, best known for playing Marlene in Only Fools and Horses, who will be playing the wicked Malevolent.

Stevi was undoubtedly the star of last year’s X-Factor after winning the hearts of both the public and the judges alike.

His first audition saw him singing Olly Murs’ Dance with Me Tonight which had all four judges, including the usually stony faced Simon Cowell, in hysterics.

And despite forgetting some of the words, Stevi managed to get a resounding yes from all four judges.

Having originally not made it through Boot Camp, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini brought him back as the over 25’s wildcard and from then on viewers fell in love with him and kept him in the show as he belted out hit after hit including Bohemian Rhapsody, the Phantom of the Opera and Elton John’s

I’m Still Standing which saw him dressed up as a pharaoh and covered in honey.

He also developed a surprising bromance with his mentor Simon Cowell which saw them going out for a date together at his local pub.

He eventually left the show in sixth place before embarking on the X-Factor tour with seven of the other finalists.

The tour saw Stevi playing arenas throughout the UK culminating in a gig at London’s O2 Arena in March.

Stevi will be playing the role of Potty Pierre, pot washer to the palace and promises his crazy antics will have audiences rolling in the aisles.

He may even revive one of his X-Factor classics to get audiences dancing away.

Beauty and the Beast is at the Central Theatre, Chatham from Thursday, December 10, to Sunday, January, 3.

Tickets are available on 01634 338338 or online at www.medwayticketslive.co.uk