Cooper siblings among a star-studded cast for BBC Two panto

The Country siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper are to play the Evil Step Sisters in a star-studded virtual pantomime being broadcast by BBC Two this Christmas.

Olivia Colman will be making her panto debut as Fairy Godmother in the retelling of Cinderella, with Anya Taylor-Joy, the breakout star of Netflix drama The Queen’s Gambit, in the title role. 

The cast also includes Guz Khan as Buttons, Tom Hollander  as Baron Hardup, Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Devilia,   Rege-Jean Page as Prince Charming and Jimmy Akingbola  as Dandini.

They are all assembling online for the hour-long show, which is being made for Comic Relief.

It was penned by the Dawson Brothers, whose credits include the David Walliams comedy Big School, based on an original script by well-established panto writer Ben Crocker

As well as the top-drawer cast - with more cameos expected - the acclaimed artist Quentin Blake has created a host of illustrations to help bring the panto to life, including this one:

BBC Two controller  Patrick-Holland, said: ‘This is a unique surprise at the end of a year when we all need cheering up. Thank you so much to Richard Curtis and the team at Comic Relief for assembling such a stellar cast to deliver us a pantomime to remember’

Charity founder Curtis, who is also executive producer on the show, said: ’We’re hugely grateful to BBC Two and the amazing cast for allowing us to do our first ever pantomime.  It’ll be very funny and merry – and also a great seasonal opportunity to raise crucial funds for the projects that will help the most vulnerable people, at home and abroad - especially now when Covid has made things harder than ever for many."

Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas will air on BBC Two at 8.15pm on Christmas Eve.

Made by: Crook Productions
Commissioned by: Patrick Holland, controller  ofBBC Two and Jo Wallace, acting controller of entertainment Commissioning
Executive producers: Matt Crook, Richard Curtis and Colin Hopkins
Director: Matt Lipsey
Commissioning editor: Katie Taylor

Published: 3 Dec 2020