A theatregoer at New Wimbledon’s Peter Pan panto added an extra touch of festive magic to the show last night (23 December 2010) when he asked his girlfriend to marry him during the the performance. Ian Brodigan chose to ask his girlfriend Angela for her hand in marriage in front of over 1,600 other audience members as well as the pantomime’s cast and crew. Having told the New Wimbledon Theatre’s staff of his plans the Christmas Romeo’s proposal was written into a scene where Captain Hook’s (Bay Watch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff) pirates read out birthday messages to the audience. During the scene he was selected, apparently at random, to take to the stage with his girlfriend under the guise of genuine audience participation. Handed a microphone Brodigan then went down on one knee. To applause and encouragement she accepted and the pair were joined onstage by ‘The Hoff’ who congratulated them and wished them both every happiness in their life together.
Peter Pan continues until 16 January 2011 and also stars Pineapple Studio’s Louie Spence as Cabin Boy Roger. American chat show host Jerry Springer takes over in the role of Captain Hook at certain performances.