A TALE as old as time comes to Northwich this Easter, with former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona returning to the cast.

Heading to Northwich Memorial Court for three shows as part of a 19-date tour, Anton Benson Productions’ Beauty and the Beast brings together Kerry, X-Factor favourite Lauren Platt and TV icon Basil Brush.

The show comes to town on Friday, March 29 at 7pm and then on Saturday March 30 at 11am and 3pm.

Kerry stars as the Atomic Fairy, joined by long-serving Heartbeat cast member Tricia Penrose as her sparring partner, the evil Enchantress.

National treasure Basil Brush will play sidekick to the Beast and X-Factor finalist turned CBBC’s Got What It Takes presenter Lauren will play Belle.

Completing the cast are returning Easter Panto favourites Ryan Greaves as Wally and Phylip Harries as the Dame Dolly, plus Karl Greenwood as the Beast and Michael Winsor as Claude.

Belle lives a quiet provincial life in the village of Ooh La La until her father accidentally stumbles across a terrifying Beast and she is taken captive. Now it is up to the Atomic Fairy, the village idiot Wally and his mother Dame Dolly to pit their wits against the the evil Enchantress and rescue Belle from the Beast.

Audiences can expect two and a half hours of toe-tapping song and dance, stunning costumes, fantastic sets and effects all wrapped up in a laugh-a-minute script.

Producer Anton Benson said: “A panto is for life and not just for Christmas.

"The regulars at our home venues love our annual Christmas shows and given how much of a hit our previous Easter panto tours have been, we are delighted to be back out on the road with this hilarious Easter production.”

Tickets available at ticketsource.co.uk/brioleisure or 0333 666 3366