He's being paid £130k for panto? Oh yes he is!

The actor, known for playing Ian Beale in the popular soap, is reportedly set to earn the eye-watering amount of money in December’s high-flying family pantomime Peter Pan in the role of Captain Hook, Neverland’s meanest man - working out as £2,500 per performance.

With 52 performances scheduled for the panto, which runs from December 2 to December 31, Adam is set to earn half of what he does during an entire year at his day job with the BBC on Eastenders, rumoured to be in the region of £260,000.

Adam, 48, is not the only soap star set to earn thousands by taking to the stage in pantomimes across the country this Christmas as The Sun have reported that co-star, and on-screen rival, Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, will earn £180,000 for five weeks in the same role in Plymouth.

The national newspaper is also reporting that Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan will reap the highest rewards in the pantomime world, as it is believed she will get paid £300,000 for eight weeks as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella in Bradford.

While the Wyvern Theatre declined to comment on artists’ fees, Adam is no stranger to the stage having made his pantomime debut in Mother Goose at the Wyvern Theatre in 1989.

He later starred as the Wicked Queen’s loveable, bumbling Henchman to critical and audience acclaim in Swindon’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2015.

Since the announcement was made that he would be joining the panto cast earlier this month, many shows have already sold out for December and it is expected that in the next few months, many more will be a sell-out to crowds.

Speaking at the time of when the announcement was made, Adam said: “I’m thrilled to be back at the Wyvern this Christmas and can’t wait to get my hook into pantomime once again.

“Swindon audiences are fantastic, always up for a great show and having a great time, and I can’t wait to hear them boo and hiss my Captain Hook.”