WYVERN pantomime villain Nigel Havers said he is looking forward to hearing plenty of boos and hisses in Swindon this Christmas – oh yes he is!

The actor, who played love rat Lewis Archer in Coronation Street, will star as King Rat in the Wyvern Theatre’s performances of Dick Whittington from December 6 to January 4.

Ticket sales are already up by 10 per cent compared to this time last year, and the theatre is expecting more than 40,000 people will see the show.

Nigel, who was at The Riverside in Lechlade yesterday for the launch with the cast, said: “I only ever play the baddie in panto. I love it because it’s more fun. Being charming and nice is such hard work. I scare the kids to death.

“They love to boo, that’s part of the deal. I will be very rude to the audience in Swindon, which makes them boo me even more.

“The whole thing has got to be fun – fun for us and fun for the audience.”

Nigel has been a star of stage and screen for 40 years. He has appeared in films including Chariots Of Fire, Nicholas Nickleby, A Passage To India, and Empire Of The Sun. He also starred in TV shows Little Britain, The Charmer, Don’t Wait Up, Brothers & Sisters and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

He researched his family on Who Do You Think You Are? and braved the Bush Tucker Challenge on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here. The seasoned pantomime star, who lives in Wiltshire, became a grandfather this year and originally planned to have this festive season off.

“I get a real buzz out of doing pantomime. I can mess about and include the audience,” he said.

“It’s hard work doing two shows a day but I just knuckle down and do it.

“My daughter said as it is my grandson Nico’s first Christmas I should be there, so I said I wasn’t going to do panto. Swindon is only 15 minutes down the road so we decided I could do this one.

“Nico is six months old and he is just the most well behaved baby. I’m in love with my grandson.”

Nigel, who starred as the Sheriff in Robin Hood in Plymouth’s pantomime last year, will be joined on stage by Wyvern Theatre pantomime favourite David Ashley, who is returning to Swindon for a fourth year. He will play Sarah the Cook.

He said: “I have done pantomime for years and I have never met an audience like Swindon. You say ‘hello Swindon’ and you’re just hit with this wall of sound.”

Nigel and David will be joined by Linda Lusardi and Sam Kane’s daughter Lucy Kane, who will play Dick Whittington’s love interest.

The pantomime will also star returning actors Lewis Barnshaw as Simple Simon and Suzie Chard as the fairy. Kristian Morse will play Dick Whittington. The show is produced by Daryl Back.

For tickets, visit swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.