Alongside Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Jon Culshaw

Catherine Tate will star in this year’s London Palladium pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, it has been announced.

The comic will play Carabosse, the wicked fairy who puts the curse on the princess that if she pricks her finger, she’ll die. 

Palladium panto stalwarts Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge all return, playing  King Julian, The Great Zerdini, Keeper of the Privy and The Diva of Dreams respectively.

Jon Culshaw will play King Julian’s private detective, having made a guest appearance last year as King Richard in a role also taken by the likes of Ian McKellen, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, James Corden and Elaine Paige over the run.

Tate said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the cast for this year’s Palladium panto and very much hope to one day rival Nigel Havers’ record.’

Earlier this year, Tate appeared in the Fox comedy Going Dutch, starring Denis Leary, playing a worker at an immigration office for sex workers.

Pantos returned to the Palladium in 2016, and have attracted a total of more than a million audience members since then. Last year’s was seen by a record-breaking  132,000 people.

The Sleeping Beauty cast also includes Emily Lane as Princess Beauty, and Amonik Melaco as the Prince.

It will run for 60 performances  from December 6 to January 11.

Published: 18 Mar 2025