Stars of this year's Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime, Peter Pan, arrived at the theatre for a first glimpse at the festive family spectacular coming this December.

Jimmy Osmond, Meera Syal, Matt Slack and Jaymi Hensley posed in full costume ahead of the swashbuckling production sailing into Birmingham from Wednesday 19th December. Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, Fiona Allan, said:

“We are incredibly excited to be working with Qdos again to bring audiences such a fantastic line up of stars for Peter Pan. From American music legend Jimmy Osmond to West Midlands born Meera Syal.

"This year’s line-up promises something for everyone, and with the clock already ticking, it’s never too early to start planning in some swashbuckling festive fun.’

In a career that has spanned four decades, Jimmy Osmond is the youngest member of The Osmonds, the American family music group who dominated the music industry in the 1970s. With hits including One Bad Apple, Crazy Horses and Love Me for a Reason. Jimmy also became the Guinness Book of Records’ youngest ever artist to achieve a UK number one single Long Haired Lover from Liverpool. As a solo artist Jimmy has received six gold records, one platinum record and two gold albums.

Comedian, writer and actress Meera Syal makes her pantomime debut as the Magical Mermaid. West Midlands-born Meera is best known for her television work including writing and performing in the iconic BBC comedy Goodness Gracious Me and played Sushila in the International Emmy award-winning series The Kumars at No. 42 which ran for seven series.

Back for his sixth consecutive Hippodrome pantomime, Birmingham’s most popular entertainer Matt Slack returns to his pantomime home to star with them as Smee. Matt has won legions of fans making thousands of Midland panto audiences laugh each and every year with his trademark physical comedy, adlibs and local references.

Starring as Peter Pan, Union J star Jaymi Hensley makes his Hippodrome debut.  Having trained at the prestigious BRIT School for Performing Arts Jaymi joined the boyband Triple J in 2011, a popular trio who entered the ninth series of ITV’s The X Factor. With an additional bandmate the band reformed as Union J winning over the judges and audiences and coming fourth in the annual television talent competition. Speaking on this year’s casting, Director, Michael Harrison said:

“We’re delighted to, once again, have assembled such a stellar line-up for this year’s production of Peter Pan, the first time the title has been staged there for thirteen years.

"We’re busy planning all sorts of surprises for the show and we’re extremely excited to be presenting a production that will be packed full of brilliant song and dance, hilarious comedy and dazzling special effects.”

Peter Pan runs from Wednesday 19th December to Sunday 27th January. For tickets, call Information and Sales on 0844 338 5000 or visit birminghamhippodrome.com for details.