David Hasselhoff in Baywatch
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Hasselhoff Cancels Panto Debut in Wimbledon Pan

David Hasselhoff (pictured) has cancelled his planned pantomime debut (See News, 4 May 2006). The Baywatch star was signed up to play Captain Hook in New Wimbledon Theatre’s new production of Peter Pan, which runs from 7 December 2006 to 14 January 2007. However, he has had to withdraw owing to conflicting dates with his US TV commitment to appear in Simon Cowell’s new series America’s Got Talent.

A statement released this week said that New Wimbledon and Peter Pan producers First Family Entertainment are “currently in negotiations to secure a major star to take on the role”. Comedian Bobby Davro and BBC children's TV presenter Sarah-Jane Honeywell are already contracted to play Smee and Pan respectively in the show.

Comedian Bobby Davro (Smee) and BBC children's TV presenter Sarah-Jane Honeywell (Pan) will also star in the show, which is presented by First Family Entertainment. First Family, founded in 2005 by David Ian for Live Nation and Howard Panter for the Ambassador Theatre Group, was also behind last year’s pantomime, Cinderella, which starred Richard Wilson, Susan Hampshire and John Barrowman and was New Wimbledon’s most successful to date.

Hasselhoff is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the Most Watched TV Star in the World," thanks to his starring roles in the TV series Knight Rider and Baywatch. When the American TV network NBC cancelled the latter, Hasselhoff and his partners acquired the rights to continue it internationally. The programme has since been viewed in 140 countries by more than one billion people.

Hasselhoff’s other screen credits include The Young and the Restless, Layover, Legacy, Don’t Call Me Tonto, One True Love, Shaka Zulu, Nick Fury and Avalanche. In the late 1980s, he launched a solo recording career and has enjoyed particular success in Germany. Prior to his 2004 West End debut in Chicago, Hasselhoff made his Broadway debut in 2000, playing the title role(s) in Jekyll and Hyde, which he followed up in 2004 by making his West End debut playing sleazy lawyer Billy Flynn in Kander and Ebb musical Chicago.

- by Terri Paddock

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