What’s On meets one of the country’s best-known schoolboys who became a stalwart soap character over a 40-year career: Todd Carty is taking to the stage in Aladdin at Chatham’s Central Theatre.

Todd Carty’s enthusiasm is infectious. Sat in a deserted Chatham Central Theatre ahead of Aladdin’s run, he was busy practicing his evil laugh and buzzing with excitement.

A familiar face on our small screens for more than 40 years, he’s been working on the pantomime scene since the mid-1980s.

But now, three decades since his ‘He’s behind you!’ debut, the 51-year-old can’t wait to lead the cast in this year’s panto.

"Who doesn’t love a custard pie in the face?" - Todd Carty

Todd will play Abanazar, the show’s villain and a “real rascal” according to the man himself.

“I love it,” says the Irish-born actor.

“Very rarely I won’t do a panto, because I keep getting asked and it’s rude to say no if you enjoy yourself.

“I’m always excited when it comes around – it’s all old-fashioned fun; who doesn’t love a custard pie in the face?”

First known as Tucker Jenkins in the BBC’s Grange Hill from 1978 to 1982, Todd went onto star in EastEnders as Mark Fowler.

But panto, along with other stage work, has played a big part in his life.

“I first saw my mum in a panto,” he recalls.

“I remember waving at her all the way through it, that helped me get into it.

“It’s great fun and what is most satisfying is at the end, when you see the faces at the front, young or old, and see whether they’ve enjoyed themselves or not – generally they do.”

Todd also played villainous cop Gabriel Kent in The Bill from 2003 to 2005, a role he’ll be able to feed off when he needs inspiration for Abanazar.

“Playing the bad man is good fun,” he said.

“I want them to love to hate him – I don’t want to make him so evil that I scar children for the rest of their lives! Boo if you want to boo, cheer if you want to cheer; he’s going to be evil because that’s what it says on the tin.”

Staged by Jordan Productions, who Todd has already worked with for three years, Aladdin opens on Thursday, December 11.

He will join Twist and Pulse from Britain’s Got Talent, as PC Hip and Hop, and pop diva Javine Hylton as the genie of the ring. It’s a traditional panto, with contemporary songs thrown in.

Todd thrives on the live audience atmosphere, which he always finds rewarding.

“It’s live theatre where kids are coming along for literally the first time,” he added.

“Kids love their iPhones and gadgets nowadays but this gets them out the house – the audiences are different every single time.

“We try to put on a good show for people, it went down really well in Redditch last year so we’re really hoping that the good citizens of Kent and Medway will enjoy it just as much.”

EXTRA TIME: TODD CARTY

When asked his about favourite-ever role, Todd’s response is short and sweet.

“That’s easy – Tucker Jenkins, Grange Hill.”

Such a clear response is no surprise, as his role as one of TV’s best-known schoolboys certainly set his career up.

He said: “It started it all off for me. I got my own show out of it and everything I’ve got out of my life and career is all on the back of Tucker.”

Todd’s first TV appearance was at the tender age of four when he appeared in an advert for Woolworths, but he really made his mark as Tucker from 1978 to 1982.

The character was so popular BBC producers decided to make the spin-off Tucker’s Luck which ran for three series.

Todd says his career has “all dovetailed amazingly well” as more TV and film work followed.

In 1990, he took on the role of original character Mark Fowler in EastEnders.

Mark was the son of Pauline and Arthur Fowler and sibling of Michelle and Martin. He played the role for 13 years, before the character rode out of Albert Square on his motorbike in February 2003 to die, off-screen, in 2004.

He then played villainous cop Gabriel Kent in The Bill, from 2003 to 2005, but there have also been lighter moments in his career.

None more so than his time on Dancing on Ice, which included stumbling off the rink into the off-stage area, leaving his partner to continue the routine alone.

The mishap was voted one of the funniest moments on British TV.

Since 2010, Todd has starred in the Monty Python touring production of Spamalot as Patsy and appeared in this year’s Celebrity MasterChef.

Aladdin is at Chatham’s Central Theatre from Thursday, December 11, until Sunday, January 4. Call 01634 338338 or visit www.medwayticketslive.co.uk