EASTENDERS star Adam Woodyatt is coming back to Swindon to take on another panto villain role.

After thrilling audiences with his performance as Captain Hook in Peter Pan last season, he is returning as ultimate baddie Abanazar in Aladdin.

Executive producer of the show Daryl Back said: “We are absolutely honoured that Adam’s love of the Swindon pantomime will see him return to the venue for a third season.

“We love working with Adam, who brings such energy to the stage along with a lifetime of acting talent.

“We’re already working on a brilliant new production of Aladdin for Adam and our Wiltshire audiences and can’t wait to share it with everyone this Christmas.”

The 49-year-old actor, who is more familiar to TV audiences as Albert Square denizen Ian Beale, confessed to the Advertiser last December that he relished the role of villain.

Aladdin, which follows a boy and his mother Widow Twanky on adventures with flying carpets, a wish-granting genie and an evil sorcerer, will be his fourth panto in Swindon.

He appeared in Mother Goose almost 30 years ago when Eastenders was just four years into its run and returned years later to play the Queen’s evil henchman in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

His character has been in the soap since the start in 1985 and over the decades has married five times, been shot and gone through a nervous breakdown. His other TV credits include The Baker Street Boys and The Witches and the Grinnygag. He also won lifetime achievement recognition from the British Soap Awards.

Wyvern Theatre director Derek Aldridge said: “It is a huge pleasure, and privilege, to welcome Adam Woodyatt back to Swindon - our audiences love him. “Booing and hissing him as our pantomime baddie will unite families and schools once again this Christmas. I really look forward to another spectacular show.”

The show runs at the Wyvern between December 8 and January 6. Tickets are available online at swindontheatres.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01793 524481.