A BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner is moving to Northwich.

Ashleigh Butler, who won the TV talent show in 2012 with her dog Pudsey, is planning to move up north as she joins the cast of this year’s Christmas pantomime.

She has performed at Memorial Court before but is looking forward to a longer stay in Cheshire as she takes on the role of a fairy in Beauty and the Beast, produced by Anton Benson.

“I love panto and I love working with Anton, I’ve worked with him a few times now, so when he asked me, I jumped at the opportunity,” Ashleigh said.

“I love working with the same people again as you can have more fun on stage and have a good laugh.

“I’ll be moving here during the run so it’s nice to be working with people who know the area and can give me directions and tips of where to go.

“That’s one thing I love about doing panto and tours is I get to see the country and visit places I normally wouldn’t and meet lots of lovely people.”

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Ashleigh, originally from Northampton and now living in the Cotswolds, rose to fame in 2012 when she and her dancing dog Pudsey won Britain’s Got Talent.

She and Pudsey went on to create a movie, publish an autobiography, present Crufts for Channel 4, and even meet the late Queen.

“When I sit down and think about it, I have crammed a lifetime worth of experiences into a decade,” Ashleigh said.

“Sometimes I still don’t think it’s real (winning Britain’s Got Talent), I can’t believe it happened.

“I am just very grateful for the life that I have now and the opportunities I get. It definitely changed my life for the better.”

Unfortunately Pudsey passed away in 2017 and since then Ashleigh has been performing with one of her other dogs, Sully.

“He’s in the dressing room now getting his hair and makeup done, just being a diva really”, she said.

“He loves performing! He’s very cheeky and very loud, he does bark so expect that.

“I have to keep changing the routine because he learns it really quick and then as the shows go on he starts anticipating what he’s got to do and so tries to finish the routine in ten seconds.”

On how to incorporate a dog into a pantomime, Ashleigh added: “That’s not my job! That is down to those who write the script.

“I’ve worked with Ryan (Greaves, co-writer) before so he knows what Sully can do and what the restrictions are so I’m sure it will be an interesting segway into Sully coming onto stage.

“It’s panto, anything can happen!”

Ryan added: “Ashleigh is great fun and I’m looking forward to the new routine her and Sully are putting together especially for the show!”

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Ashleigh is no stranger to panto, having been performing on stage long before her success on Britain’s Got Talent.

She said: “I’ve done about 15 or 16 pantos now so I would like to say I’m a bit of a pro now.

“I love panto and everything it stands for. I love looking into the audience and seeing families because there’s not many things now you can do as a whole family, it brings everyone together.

“It was something my nan always used to take me to, and I distinctly remember watching Cinderella one year and I thinking ‘I want to be up there’ and now I get to do it. How many people can say their job is being a fairy?"

Ashleigh toured with Anton and co in Easter 2018, as the titular character of Alice in Wonderland.

The show opened in Northwich before heading across the country.

“I travel a heck of a lot so this time round I am quite looking forward to having a home from home for a few weeks," Ashleigh said.

“After the panto we will move on to the agility side of things, so we have GB tryouts and then Crufts in March.”

Beauty and the Beast runs from December 7 to 31 and tickets are on sale now via the Brio Entertainment website.