More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Medway's Dr Ranj is set to make his pantomime debut.
The TV doctor, who starred in Strictly last year, will join the cast of Mother Goose at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury this Christmas.
The production will see him join Olivier Award-winning actor Jenna Russell, alongside local favourites Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett. The production will mark Canterbury-based Ben’s tenth year in panto.
Dr Ranj, who will play Billy Goose, is one of the resident doctors on ITV's This Morning and is the co-creator and host of the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies series Get Well Soon. He also co-presents ITV’s Save Money: Good Health.
In 2018, Ranj swapped his scrubs for sequins, partnering Janette Manrara on Strictly Come Dancing.
Kent-based actress Jenna - best known for playing Michelle Fowler in EastEnders - will play Fairy Goodfeather. She has also appeared in Call The Midwife, The Paradise, Holby City, and Doctor Who.
Writer, co-producer and director, Paul Hendy, of Evolution Productions, said: "To have Dr Ranj at The Marlowe for his panto debut is absolutely fantastic and we are thrilled he's joined by the Olivier Award-winning, celebrated actress Jenna Russell, who's undoubtably going to delight audiences.
“Mother Goose is a classic pantomime, and a perfect fit for the brilliant Ben Roddy (one of the best dames in the country!) in his 10th year at The Marlowe. With the hilarious Lloyd Hollett also returning to The Marlowe, all of this superb cast have a
strong Kent connection, which is terrific. Mother Goose is quite simply going to be our biggest and funniest panto yet."
Ben Roddy takes on the title role of Mother Goose, after being named Dame Of The Year at the Great British Pantomime Awards for his role in Peter Pan in 2018 and was nominated for Best Ugly Sister for his role in Cinderella in 2018/19.
Thanet's Lloyd Hollett will play Charlie in this, his ninth Marlowe pantomime. He also performs as a stand-up comedian and has written for Stephen Mulhern for many years.
The production, sponsored by Superior Healthcare and Walker Construction, runs at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury from her Goose is at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, January 12. To book tickets got to marlowetheatre.com or call the box office on 01227 787787.
