Roy Brandon is dame for a laugh.

Mr B, actor writer and musician, has been one of the panto world's great characters on and off for 30 years.

Wirral-based Roy has been a big hit with his dame performances at the much- missed Pacific Road and New Brighton Pavilion.

This year the actor, who apperared in smash hits Brick Up the Mersey Tunnels and Down Our Street at the Royal Court is at the Empire playing Widow Twankey.

He appears alongside former Brookside stars Ray Quinn and Claire Sweeney and radio personalities, Leanne Campbell and Pete Price.

Roy loves every panto as much as the first time he donned the bizarre costumes.

More than 30 times he has shown his love of art form.

"I spend around 25 minutes in make-up.

"During each performance I do a lot of running around.

"I lose tons of weight...I will probably be four stone by the end of the run in January."

Stage and screen star Roy has written two pantos himself and is writing a serious play.

For the next two months his focus is on making his latest Twankey another critically acclaimed
addition to his wide-ranging CV.

"We have a great cast and dancers, up-to-date tunes, lots of silliness and splatterings of slapstick.

"In a panto we want the audience to enjoy it as much as we all do.

"As Dame you can never be too over-the -top and that for an actor is heaven.

"Thete are plenty of old gags and new ones and a bit of libbing.

"It has everything.

"Panto is very hard but enjoyable work.

"The results are in the laughter and smiles from the audience."

So how does  veteran Dame Brandon unwind after each energy-zapping panto performance?

"I like nothing better than getting a rub down with a wet Wirral Globe."

Oh yes he does!

Aladdin

Empire Theatre Dec 13 to January 4.

Box office: 08706063536