The countdown to Christmas really begins in this week's What's On.

As part of our three-page panto round-up, we chat to EastEnders star Samantha Womack, star of Marlowe Theatre's festive family show Jack and the Beanstalk.

Don't miss our guide to the Christmas light switch-on events in the county this week, including celebrity Penny Smith turning on Tenterden's festive display.

Christmas grottos, train rides with Santa and a 40m snow slide are among the festive entertainments starting in the county this week. Don't miss our guide to the best on offer.

Everyone knows the story of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. But four friends did more than read the book – they decided to stage it as a musical. Among them is Josh Sills, who chats to What's On about the ambitious project, which arrives in Kent this week.

Fans of comedy legend Jennifer Saunders can meet her, when she visits Bluewater to sign copies of her new autobiography.

Don't miss this week's Fun Club, with a voucher entitling one child to free entry to the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch.

And we have a bumper bundle of prizes to be won, including:

- An XBox One in our reverse auction

- Hotel Chocolat hamper worth £500

- 10 family tickets to see Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play at Glow, Bluewater

- A firepit and debbie&andrew's products worth £250

- Six pairs of tickets to see Odyssey at Dickens World's New Year's Eve party