Soap star pin up Adele to star in York panto

Former Emmerdale star and “lads mag” favourite Adele Silva will star in the Grand Opera House’s panto Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs this Christmas.

New Pantomime Productions returns to the Grand Opera House York for the 15th year running this Christmas, with Adele in the role of the Wicked Queen.

Best known as Kelly Windsor from Yorkshire favourite Emmerdale, she first played the character from 1993 to 2000 before returning to the soap in 2005. Her plotlines included a relationship with her stepbrother and running off with one of her school teachers.

Away from Emmerdale, Adele appeared on Is Harry on the Boat?, Mile High, The Courtroom and the independent film Jam. She has also made appearances in the reality television shows Celebrity Fear Factor, The Salon, I’m Famous and Frightened! and Celebrity 5 Go Dating.

Adele appeared in the third series of Hell’s Kitchen where she came second to Barry McGuigan, and starred in the comedy-horror film Strippers vs Werewolves. She became established as a sex symbol and has appeared in men’s magazines like Front, FHM and Maxim.

In Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs her co-stars will include Marcus Patrick, playing the part of the Huntsman. He is known for the role of Ben Davies in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, he then starred in its spin-offs Hollyoaks: Let Loose and Hollyoaks: In the City.

After leaving Hollyoaks in 2006, Marcus has appeared twice on BBC1 lunchtime drama Doctors, and in 2008 he landed a major role in ITV1 drama Echo Beach and its spin-off show Moving Wallpaper. Marcus has also appeared as a competitor on The Weakest Link, Soapstar Superchef, Strictly Ice Dancing and Celebrity MasterChef. He also won Total Wipeout and 71 Degrees North.

Rob McVeigh is a builder by trade who found fame as a contestant in the BBC TV series Any Dream Will Do. Rob is currently performing in the UK tour of Annie as Bundles, Burt Healey & Howe.

Returning to the Grand Opera House, Aiden J Harvey plays Muddles. The comedian and impersonator got his break on the mid-1970s ATV talent show New Faces. He was subsequently in demand on TV comedy and variety shows throughout the following decade.

He is probably most famous as a member of the Copy Cats team, a popular comedy programme of the late 1980s.

Lizzie Richards, general manager of the Grand Opera House York, said: “We look forward to another successful pantomime at the Grand Opera House York this Christmas, bringing joy to all the family.”