Kerry Katona says she is “dying to get back” to pantomime ahead of her Christmas gig as ‘Ugly Sister Botox’.
The former face of Iceland is joining her teenage daughter Lilly-Sue on stage this Christmas at the New Theatre Royal in Lincoln.
It’s her first time back to the county in six years after playing a slightly more glamourous Fairy Godmother in 2016’s Cinderella.
The 41-year-old will transform into ‘Ugly Sister Botox’ and 19-year-old Lilly-Sue, who worked in the theatre’s sweet shop in 2016, will play ‘Baby Botox’.
Cinderella will run at the Lincolnshire theatre between December 9 and January 8 2023 – with adult tickets starting from just £26.
Speaking to local news website The Lincolnlite about her previous gig in 2016, Kerry said it was her first ever panto and it “was amazing”.
“I’ve been doing panto twice a year ever since because I loved it so much. I’ve been dying to get back here and here we are,” she told the outlet.
“Until I did panto I didn’t realise just how hard it is. When I got asked to do it for the first time I honestly thought that was my career over, but I kid you not, you have not worked hard until you’ve done panto. It’s such a hard slog but it’s the most rewarding and most fun you’ll ever have.”
In a sit-down interview with the outlet, Lilly-Sue has already aired fears her mum will get on her nerves – saying the stint might be “a little bit intense”.
“I’ve always been a theatre kid, but behind the scenes”, Lily said. “They call it a proper panto family, but with that, as much as you build love and friendships, is a lot of maybe getting on each other’s nerves.
“You’re doing three shows a day every single day and I think that is just a little bit intense – especially when you’re going home together, that becomes a lot.”
The pair last worked together on reality TV show Celebrity Coach Trip where the mother-daughter duo went on to win the series.
They will join X Factor and I’m A Celebrity star Jake Quickenden in the Christmas pantomime this year – he will be taking the role as Fairy Godmother.
Also joining the cast will be comedian Patrick Monahan as Buttons and Strictly Come Dancing legend Ian Waite who will take over Jake’s role after December 24.
Jake, who starred as Flash Hugo in theatre’s Beauty and the Beast pantomime last year, told LincolnshireLive he was “excited to be back”.
He added: “Last year was amazing and the crowds were incredible. It's one big family at the theatre too, so when the opportunity came round to perform in Lincoln again, I jumped straight on it, it feels like my hometown, and I can't wait to get started."
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