CHRISTMAS is coming early for family audience when Boy George makes his panto debut in Blackpool next week.

The Culture Club singer and pop icon will play Captain Hook in a spectacular version of Peter Pan at the Winter Gardens.

Featuring a cast of over 50 performers, the show features breathtaking effects, swash-buckling sword-fights, death-defying stunts and all the magic of Neverland. Plus there’s a pirate galleon that sails around the stage.

The Bolton News: Boy George as Captain Hook (Picture: Liam Rudden)

For Boy George this will be the first time he has performed in panto.

He said: “The scale and spectacle is what attracted me. If I was going to do a panto it had to be be something special and unique.

“There is one bit in the show where I get 200 inflatable cannon balls thrown at me by the audience. It’s going to be insane. I am looking forward to learning the swords fights too,” reveals George, insisting he can’t wait to be in the middle of all the action.

“I’m definitely not going to be hiding behind the hydraulics,” he laughs. “When I do something I commit to it completely. I don’t do anything in a half-hearted manner whether it’s making a cup of coffee or playing Captain Hook.

“All these things are going to make the show fun and I wouldn’t be doing it if I wasn’t prepared to do everything I can to make it great.”

The production also features Dorit Kemsley from the hit TV show, The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills playing the mermaid and daredevil comedian Jordan Conway as Peter Pan.

He said: “I am thrilled to be working with Boy George, surely one of the most iconic stars of all time, who will make this production stylish and unique. We use every square inch of the stage and auditorium to deliver a massive production both breathtaking and hilarious. Two huge LED screens make sure nobody ever misses any of the action.”

It’s a monster of a show which will require eight HGVs to transport the set and costumes around the country and the set-up includes 10 miles of cabling.

“It’s going to be such a fun, family orientated experience,” said Boy George. “I don’t see it as work, I see it as fun. I’ve never really had a regular job so to me it’s very exciting.

“Jordan is very dedicated and has a similar sense of humour to me. I’m sure that he and I will be ad-libbing plenty, especially in the scene where we trade insults before we launch into the sword fight.

“I’ve always been a bit of a kid at heart. I still have a sense of adventure and welcome new challenges. It’s important to embrace new ideas and with Peter Pan I plan to take it seriously and do the best I can.

“After all, there’s no rest for the wicked and they don’t get any more wicked than Captain Hook.”

Peter Pan will be at the Winter Gardens from Thursday until Sunday next week. It will also be at MS Bank Arena in Liverpool on December 2 and 3 although due to filming commitments, Dorit Kemsley will be unavailable for the Liverpool shows.

It is being staged by World’s Biggest Productions who previously took Elf out on an arena tour. That show is returning to Manchester Arena on December 23 and 24.

For details visit www.peterpantix.com.