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The United Kingdom is buzzing with joy, because it tis the holiday season; a time to be jolly, and the time to sing, dance and laugh at Christmas Pantomimes. This time of year is the time to pack up the family and take a trip to the theatres to experience the excitement of Panto Christmas in London and the rest of the UK.

There is nothing quite like Xmas Panto, a Christmas pantomime time that runs from mid November through mid February in towns, villages and cities throughout the UK. Go to the theatre and watch your favourite fairy tale come to life in a way you’ve never seen it before, with male stars portraying women and women stars taking on roles as men in heartfelt fairy tales. It’s hilarious, ridiculously entertaining and a delightful, fun-filled time for young and old alike.

For example, you won’t want to miss Christmas Pantomimes 2011, madcap madness of Potted Panto, which highlights eighty minutes of eight never to be forgotten pantomimes. Fresh off the Olivier Awards Best Entertainment nomination, Dan and Jeff of CBBC will captivate any audience as they take on Aladdin’s lamp, wander through Dick Whittington’s London, look for Cinderella’s slipper, rattle Sleeping Beauty, take on Jack and the Beanstalk and tangle with Snow White’s seven dwarves. Guaranteed, you’ll walk away from this show with a smile on your face.

Fun Panto Facts

• If there are fairies in any production, they must always enter stage right.
• The bad guys must always enter stage left.
• Actors cannot rehearse their last lines. They are performed opening night in order to avoid bad luck.
• It’s also bad luck to wish an actor good luck. Tell them instead to ‘break a leg’.
• You must participate in the play by booing villains, and letting the good guys know a villain is around by screaming, “He’s behind you!”
• And you must sing your heart out when asked to join in on everyone’s favourite fairy tale songs.

Top Panto List in 2011

Join in on the fun at Panto 2011. It is a United Kingdom tradition that no one should miss. There truly is something very special about Christmas in London and Pantomime.

GRAND THEATRE, WOLVERHAMPTON
What’s on: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
Starring: Linda Lusardi, Sam Kane, The Grumbleweeds, Niki Evans
http://www.grandtheatre.info/WhatsOn_focus.asp?ShowId=516&sC=page10

DERNGATE THEATRE, NORTHAMPTON
What’s on: Aladdin
Starring: Bobby Davro, Jeffrey Holland, Brian Fortuna
http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/en/Home/WhatsOn/Aladdin

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
What’s on: Cinderella
Starring: Brian Conley, Basil Brush, Lynda Bellingham
http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/

GLASGOW CLYDE AUDITORIUM
What’s on: Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates
Starring: John Barrowman, The Krankies
http://www.ticketsoup.com/tickets/robinson-crusoe-and-the-caribbean-pirates-2011-12347/default.aspx

NEW THEATRE CARDIFF
What’s on: Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates
Starring: Christopher Biggins, Paul Zerdin
http://www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/what’s-on/robinson-crusoe-the-caribbean-pirates/

WOKING NEW VICTORIA THEATRE
What’s on: Peter Pan
Starring: Steve McFadden, Harry Derbidge, Amy Bird, Andy Collins
http://www.atgtickets.com/Peter-Pan-Tickets/54/151/

WIMBLEDON NEW THEATRE
What’s on: Dick Whittington
Starring: Dame Edna Everage, Sam Attwater, Anna Williamson
http://www.atgtickets.com/Dick-Whittington-Tickets/7/209/#overview_tab

OPERA HOUSE MANCHESTER
What’s on: Cinderella
Starring: Louie Spence, Suzanne Shaw
http://www.atgtickets.com/Cinderella-Tickets/172/942/#overview_tab

BRISTOL HIPPODROME
What’s on: Peter Pan
Starring: David Hasselhoff
http://www.atgtickets.com/Peter-Pan-Tickets/207/900/#overview_tab

PETERBOROUGH BROADWAY THEATRE
What’s on: Cinderella
Starring: Michael Barrymore
http://www.thebroadwaytheatre.co.uk

NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
What’s on: Sleeping Beauty
Starring: Hayley Tamaddon, Kevin Sacre
http://www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/whatson/shows/sleepingbeauty.aspx

IPSWICH REGENT & CORN EXCHANGE
What’s on: Wizard of Oz
Starring: Dani Harmer, Ken Morley, Matthew McVarish, Aaron Sidwell
https://apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO/show_events_list.asp

Photo credit: scooter.john

As the Christmas holidays are nearing, the big leagues in the industry of public service broadcasting, particularly BBC and ITV, are heavily competing for top viewer ratings. During the Christmas holidays, British families and folks all gather around the TV screen to indulge on their favourite TV shows and movies lined up for the entire holiday. There is no secret that British folks have a distinct liking for Christmas television, which is unlike any other across the globe. With Christmas just around the corner, it is best to begin planning your Christmas Day viewing as soon as possible to avoid missing out on your favourite TV shows and major programmes. Read on as we discuss the lined up Christmas TV schedule 2011 for both BBC and ITV.

Those who love British hit TV show, Strictly Come Dancing, will be able to watch their favourite dancing celebrities at BBC at 8pm with Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special . But before that, the Doctor Who Christmas Special, which is titled The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe, will also be showing on BBC1 at 7pm so be sure to tune it. Meanwhile, BBC’s rival, ITV1, is also offering major programmes including the All Star Family Fortunes at 7pm and then succeeded by Coronation Street at 8pm. ITV1 will also be showing its big hit Downton Abbey with a seasonal one-off part that will be shown at 9pm and ending at 11:05pm. Going head to head with ITV1′s Downtown Abbey, BBC will be broadcasting the Christmas Special episode of EastEnders that’ll be showing at 9pm. Following the show, the highly awaited comeback of Jennifer Saunders’ sitcom Absolutely Fabulous which airs on BBC1 on Christmas Day at 10pm. The show is followed by Michael McIntyre’s hit Comedy Roadshow Christmas Special at 10:30.

Preceding Christmas Day, BBC1 will air The Gruffalo’s Child at 6:30pm. BBC will also be airing movies in the Christmas afternoon like Kung Fu Panda at 12:35pm, Monster vs Aliens at 3:10pm and Ratatouille at 4:50pm while ITV1 will broadcast Aladdin at 1:15pm and Happy Feet at 3:10pm. These films will surely be appreciate by the family, especially the kids. Other major programmes awaited by thousands of households and millions of Christmas TV viewers are the Queen’s Speech which is a regular and traditional event on British television. The award-winning and highly-acclaimed British TV comedy-drama show entitled Benidorm will also be included on ITV’s itinerary.

For a more complete list of Christmas TV schedule 2011 that can guide you on your favourite British reality shows and films, you can search for a wide variation of TV schedule providers for BBC and ITV from different websites on the internet. Make your Christmas more complete with these line-up of shows and films.