ESSEX stars will feature prominently in a celeb-packed festive production of Jack and the Beanstalk later this year.

Held at the Cliffs Pavilion, in Southend, Essex stars Lee Mead and Stacey Solomon, plus Bobby Davro and Robin Askwith will lead the cast of this year’s pantomime from Saturday, December 16.

Executive producer of Jack and the Beanstalk, Jonathan Kiley, said “We are delighted to announce that Lee, Stacey, Bobby and Robin will be starring in this year’s spectacular Cliffs Pavilion pantomime.

“This year’s production promises all of the music, laughter, audience participation and special effects Southend has come to expect every Christmas, and it promises to be a magical treat for the entire family, including a spectacular 3D sequence which will transport audiences to the Giant’s magical kingdom.”

Playing the lead role of Jack is Southend-born musical theatre and television actor Lee Mead. Best-known for winning the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do, Mr Mead won the title role in the West End revival of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Since then he has had lead roles in Wicked and Legally Blonde in the West End, released several solo albums and toured extensively.

Starring alongside him as the Spirit of the Beans is X Factor and Loose Women star Stacey Solomon. Since coming third in the sixth series of ITV’s the X Factor, Ms Solomon rose to fame as a much-loved television personality and presenter having won the coveted title of Queen of the Jungle in the tenth series of the hit reality ITV show I’m a Celebrity…Get me Out of Here!

Bobby Davro is well-known for his illustrious television career which has seen him present his own series Bobby Davro on the Box, Bobby’s Sketch Pad, TV Weekly, Public Enemy Number One, Rock With Laughter and Run the Risk, and host 65 episodes of Winner Takes All.

Completing the line-up as the evil villain Fleshcreep is film and television star Robin Askwith. A regular on the big screen throughout the Seventies, Mr Askwith went on to appear in numerous television shows including Public Eye, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Randall and Hopkirk and, most recently, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Benidorm.

Staged by Qdos Entertainment, audiences will follow Jack and climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloud land in this family pantomime adventure. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves.

Theatre Director Ellen McPhillips welcomed the announcement saying: “We are, of course, very excited about having two of Essex’s own in the cast with Lee and Stacey.”

Jack and the Beanstalk will be at the Cliffs Pavilion until Sunday January 7. For more information or to book, visit thecliffspavilion.co.uk