REVIEW: Dick Whittington Panto at Birmingham Hippodrome - watch out for the flying bus to Cheapside Bottom

“Here’s something you’ve never seen before, Birmingham,” he hollered across the packed out auditorium.

After a hilarious hour-or-so of watching Matt Slack as Dick Whittington - in his first ever leading role at the Birmingham Hippodrome panto - it was difficult to predict what could possibly follow.

We’d already seen a member of the audience being chucked off the stage into the orchestra pit, a quip about Matt Hancock appearing next year and Marti Pellow’s darkly debonaire baddy Ratman raising the house with boos.

But being prepared for the unexpected didn’t halt a stunned reaction as an old WMPTE style bus flew - well more like floated - across the stage, right into the audience.

The no 7 to Cheapside bottom, announced by Matt, was a superb finale to a first half of this year’s big Brummie panto - dubbed the best in Britain, for many very good reasons. Other highlights included some unexpected, stunning operatic vocals from Lazy Cow Doreen Tipton who plays a cat.

She, Matt and Andrew Ryan, who stars as sweet shop owner Felicity Fitzwarren, are the panto trio gift that keeps giving for Birmingham, each year topping the next with their fun filled antics.

Joining them in and Marti in the headline players are Suzanne Shaw who first struck fame in Hear’Say in the X-factor predecessor reality talent show in ITV’s Popstars at the beginning of the noughties. She plays Felicity’s daughter - and Dick’s love interest - Alice Fitzwarren.

With Dr Ranj, a regular on ITV’s This Morning and a star of Strictly, who plays The Spirit of the Bells - and survives Matt Slack’s digs about booking him for panto being the quickest way to get an appointment with the doctor!

As well as a flying WMPTE bus there are some startling pyrotechnics which are very impressive - and the giant rat will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning.

It was fantastic to see children on stage bringing a real touch of magic to the fun filled show which really is packed with entertainment for the whole family. It really is a pantomime paved with gold.

If you’ve already got tickets, you’re in for a real treat. If not, then book up now - and don’t miss out on one of the best laughs in Birmingham this Christmas.

Dick Whittington is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Sunday, January 29. For more information and to book go to: Birmingham Hippodrome Dick Whittington