BOBBY Davro will no doubt be the one to get the audience rolling in the aisles from laughter, when he plays the part of Silly Billy in this year's big Cliffs' panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.

The much-loved entertainer was all over the telly in the 1980s with his own prime time shows such as Bobby Davro on the Box, Bobby Davro's TV Annual and Bobby Davro's TV Weekly.

His career has continued through many veins since, more recently being at the King's Head Theatre, Islington, where he played London cab driver Eric in Not a Game for Boys, to much critical acclaim for his depth of performance as well as his comic timing.

Last year Davro did a successful 20 date UK tour.

The stand up comic, TV presenter, panto star and general all round entertainer, has been pleasing audiences everywhere since his TV debut in 1981.

See him alongside a celebrity cast of Stacey Solomon, Lee mead and Robin Askwith opening at the theatre on December 16 until Sunday January 7.

Tickets are on sale via southendtheatres.org.uk or the box office on 01702 351135.

Can you please tell us a brief bit about your role in Jack and the Beanstalk?

I’m playing Silly Billy in this year’s pantomime, son of Dame Trot and brother to Jack Trot and I’m very, very silly, getting into scrapes and causing all sorts of mischief, some of which is actually in the script.

What are your co-stars like?

I’m thrilled to be working with Lee Mead again, we did panto together a few years back and have become really good mates so it’s going to be a lot of fun playing his brother and making him laugh on stage.

Stacey Solomon is wonderful too, very game for a lot of fun and a voice to die for and my old mate Robin Askwith and I go way back. We had our panto launch not so long ago and had a great time so it’s going to be a lot of Fee, Fi, Fo, Fun this year at the Cliffs.

Have you ever experienced an over-enthusiastic or difficult panto heckler in your time and how did you deal with it?

Hecklers are part of what I do in stand up so I’m used to dealing with them, and with a panto crowd and a long run I tend to change my responses all the time. As long as they’re funny and don’t disrupt the show I don’t mind them, but if it’s heckling for heckling’s sake it’s best to deal with it and move on so it doesn’t spoil the fun for everyone.

How will you be spending Christmas day this year?

Christmas Day will be our one day off as we’re doing twelve shows a week at the Cliffs so I’ll head home after our Christmas Eve performance and get a good night’s sleep then spend the day with my family having a traditional Christmas dinner, then put my feet up and watch the telly with them before getting back to the Beanstalk on Boxing Day.

What’s best, giving or receiving gifts?

Giving gifts, definitely. I’m hoping to get enough time to dash about the Victoria Centre in between shows to pick up gifts for my loved ones, that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, seeing the look on someone’s face when they unwrap a pair of socks.

Will you be doing any ice skating this year and will you do any of the moves you learned from Dancing on Ice?

I certainly won’t be, but it depends on how bad the weather gets and the icy wind coming in off the estuary. I loved my time on Dancing on Ice, but I’ve definitely hung up my skates now.

Will you get to go out in Southend much during the pantomime and if so, what marvellous places do you plan to visit?

I know Southend well and have done various shows at the Cliffs and the Palace over the years so I’m hoping to get enough time to revisit old haunts. With two shows a day, twelve shows a week I might not have much time, but I’ll definitely try!