Jason Manford makes a magical return for a third panto season at the Opera House

Manchester Opera House and pantomime producer Crossroads Pantomimes have today [Thursday 9th May 2024] announced that Comedy superstar Jason Manford will return for a third season to lead the cast of this year’s spectacular production of Cinderella this Christmas.

Manford is joined by the previously announced Ben Nickless (Buttons) and Myra DuBois (Wicked Stepmother), seeing the trio return by popular demand after last year’s triumphant success, Jack and the Beanstalk. Having finished his run as The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz at The Palace Theatre last week, Jason will return to entertain Manchester audiences this Christmas as he steps into the role of Prince Charming in the fairy Godmother of all pantomimes, Cinderella.

Salford-born Jason Manford is one of the UK’s leading multi-talented performers, with a career also spanning acting, presenting, and singing on both stage and screen. Away from comedy, Jason has hosted many shows for the BBC and ITV including Unbeatable, Sunday Night at The Palladium and The Royal Variety Performance. He was a judge on ITV1's Saturday night talent show Starstruck and has hosted BBC One's primetime show Big Night of Musicals since 2022. Later this year, he will be back on BBC One hosting a new teatime quiz show, The Answer Run. Jason also presents his award-winning three-hour show every Sunday on Absolute Radio.

On stage, Jason has starred in numerous musicals in the West End and across the UK, including Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls, and Curtains. Jason has starred as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium and The Palace Theatre in Manchester and has led the cast at the Manchester Opera House as Captain Hook in The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan and Jack in Jack and The Beanstalk. He has just announced a major UK stand-up tour for 2024/5, A Manford All Seasons.

On his return to panto for a third season, Jason Manford said:

“I’m thrilled to be back at the Manchester Opera House this Christmas for my third panto in a row! And this year I get to play Prince Charming in Cinderella and be back alongside the brilliant Ben Nickless once again.  Also joining us from last year’s panto extravaganza is the very funny Myra DuBois - it’s going to be a lot of fun. And as I always say, Manchester audiences are second to none, so I’m honoured to be spending this Christmas with you all again.”

Cinderella will be produced by the world’s biggest pantomime producer and the team behind the 2023 production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Crossroads Pantomimes whose Chief Executive Michael Harrison said:

“Jason has proven to be have been such a huge hit with Manchester panto audiences that we simply couldn’t imaging staging Cinderella, the most magical pantomime of them all, without him. With his talent both as a comedian and musical theatre star, and the rare comedy magic we’ve seen onstage between him and Ben Nickless we know that the Opera House’s long panto tradition is in very safe hands led by Jason again this year.”

The production will be packed full of the magical ingredients Manchester audiences have come to expect from their annual festive production - Cinderella will feature laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.

Join Cinders as she goes from rags to riches, outwits her very wicked sisters and meets her Prince Charming. The clock is ticking, so book your tickets now!

Sat 14 Dec 2024 - Sun 5 Jan 2025
MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE