Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary to star in Cinderella at London Palladium

Initial casting has been announced for Cinderella at the London Palladium, with Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary among the 32 strong cast.

O'Grady, best known as host of The Paul O'Grady Show and his drag-queen character Lily Savage, will play The Wicked Stepmother whilst comedian and novelist Clary will play Dandini.

Joining them will be Lee Mead (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Prince Charming, ventriloquist Paul Zerdin as Buttons, Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire, Downton Abbey) as Lord Chamberlain and Count Arthur Strong (Count Arthur Strong’s Radio Show!) as Baron Hardup.

Casting for Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother and the Ugly Sisters is yet to be announced.

The classic rags-to-riches tale will mark the first pantomime at the Palladium in 29 years.

Directed by Michael Harrison and co-directed and choreographed by Andrew Wright, the show will feature design by Ian Westbrook with costume design for Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary by Hugh Durrant, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, projections by Duncan Mclean, sound by Gareth Owen, musical supervision and orchestration by Gary Hind, musical direction by Greg Arrowsmith and visual special effects by The Twins FX.

Cinderella will run at the London Palladium from 9 December to 5 January.