A Celebrity Big Brother winner and former cage fighter is to lead the cast of this year’s Sittingbourne pantomime.

Alex Reid will play the evil Gaston in Beauty and The Beast at Swallows Leisure Centre in December.

The TV personality, who also starred in the soap Hollyoaks 18 years ago and was once married to glamour model Katie Price, said he was looking forward to his third panto performance.

He said: “I love panto and this will be my third after appearing as Fleshcreep in Jack and The Beanstalk in Manchester and The Genie in Aladdin in Wales.”

The 41-year-old was booed when he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2010.

At the time he told presenter Davina McCall he aimed to turn the crowd’s boos into cheers and succeeded by winning the competition. Now he aims to win over the Sittingbourne audience, although he expects to get some boos as this year’s panto baddie.

Alex, known as the Reidernator to cage fighting fans, said: “Being on stage in front of an audience does make me feel a little nervous, but that’s the fun and excitement of being a performer.

“It’s important to know your lines and with panto it’s vital to get the timing right, otherwise a key joke or line might fall flat. Pantomime acting is a real skill in itself and I can’t wait to get my teeth into it again.”

He added: “I’ve always loved performing. It’s something my whole career has revolved around. Even in martial arts and as a cage fighter there was a strong performance element.”

For the pantomime, Alex will be joined by Sheerness’s own Robert Brendan, who played the Prince last year in Snow White.

Panto favourite Harry Moore will play Dame Dumpling. Producer Kevin Brown said: “We are thrilled to have secured Alex for this year’s pantomime.

“Each year the Sittingbourne pantomime gets bigger.”

Beauty and The Beast will run at Swallows from Friday, December 15, to Wednesday, December 27, with morning, matinee and evening performances.