Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre have announced that Debbie McGee will join the cast of this year’s fairytale pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

The TV favourite joins Doreen Tipton and Ian Adams in the must-see annual festive treat which starts on Saturday 8th December.

Having graduated from the Royal Ballet School, Debbie went on to join the Iranian National Ballet Company where she appeared as part of the Corps de Ballet and later as a soloist. After returning to the UK Debbie went on to appear in touring productions and summer seasons where she first met her husband of 28 years Paul Daniels. She later joined various dance troupes and toured Europe with acts including Chris De Burgh before reuniting with Paul for summer season and appearing alongside him in his London stage residency It’s Magic in 1980. 

Debbie went on to star as Paul’s assistant on stage and on television in his long-running BBC series The Paul Daniels Magic Show which regularly attracted audiences of over 15 million and ran for fifteen years. In 1991 Debbie was the inaugural female member of The Magic Circle and in 2017 was awarded their Maskelyne Award for Services to British Magic, the same award honoured to Paul in 1988, the year they married. 

In addition to her stage and magic career Debbie also set up her own ballet company, Ballet Imaginaire, and has appeared on numerous shows including Come Dine With Me, Celebrity MasterChef and Barging Loving Celebs. Last year Debbie appeared as a contestant on the fifteenth series of the BBC’s primetime Saturday night dancing show Strictly Come Dancing. Coupled with pro-dancer Giovanni Pernice the couple reached the finals of the competition and wowed the judging panel and a new generation of audience members with her dancing and performance skill.

Debbie will put those skills to great use and star as the Good Fairy in the production. The immortal fairy sent to help protect and save the beautiful Princess Beauty, Debbie will star alongside the previously announced returning stars Doreen Tipton and Ian Adams, who recently won the What’s On Readers’ Award for Best Panto Dame in the annual production brought to Wolverhampton Grand by Qdos Entertainment. Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre, Adrian Jackson, said: 

“I’m delighted that Debbie has joined the cast of Sleeping Beauty. Debbie will certainly add extra sparkle to this year’s pantomime and I know she will cha-cha-charm audiences when she waltzes into Wolverhampton this festive season.” 

Qdos Entertainment Managing Director Michael Harrison added: “Debbie was, without doubt, one of the real standouts from last year’s Strictly and we’re delighted she’ll be joining us and starring in our Grand pantomime this year.

“Not only has she proved amazing prowess on the dance floor we all know she’s capable of producing real magic and we can’t wait to get started.”

Further casting is to be announced soon.

Tickets for the show are now on sale and can be booked in person at the theatre, by calling 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.