Ab Fab Star Jennifer Saunders to Play Captain Hook in Peter Pan Panto

The London Palladium pantomime is set to return for an eighth year, with a brand new production of Peter Pan starring Jennifer Saunders and Julian Clary.

Saunders, who will be making her Palladium panto debut in Peter Pan playing Captain Hook, said, “I could not be more delighted to be doing my first panto ever at the Palladium. I am a huge fan of panto and The Palladium always delivers. I wouldn’t want to be in Peter Pan’s tiny soft shoes let me tell you, because I am going to give Hook my all!”

Returning Palladium panto favorites Paul Zerdin (Starkey), Nigel Havers (Pirate Nigel), Gary Wilmot (Mrs Henrietta Hook), and Rob Madge (Tink) will also join Saunders and Clary (who plays Seamen Smee) in the cast. The production will once again be directed by Michael Harrison, who has produced and directed all eight London Palladium pantomimes.

Peter Pan will run from December 9, 2023 to January 14, 2024 with public booking opening on Friday, April 28 at 10am.

Michael Harrison, the producer and director of all eight London Palladium pantomimes, expressed his excitement over the show: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming comedy legend Jennifer Saunders to our panto as Captain Hook. She is going to be a sensational addition to our show. Julian Clary is without doubt one of the greatest performers ever to grace the Palladium stage and it’s also a huge pleasure to welcome back the much-loved team of Paul, Nigel and Gary. I am particularly excited that the inimitable Rob Madge loved appearing in last year’s show so much they have signed up for another year of Palladium madness!”

Clary, Havers, and Zerdin have starred in pantomimes at The London Palladium since the 2016 production of Cinderella. Wilmot joined the cast in 2017, with Madge making a Palladium panto debut in last year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Harrison’s production of Peter Pan will feature set designs by Mark Walters and costume designs by Hugh Durrant created especially for the London Palladium, choreography by Karen Bruce, lighting designs by Ben Cracknell, sound designs by Gareth Owen and composition and orchestrations by Gary Hind.

Peter Pan is produced by Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes.