Steve Royle loves Christmas and the panto season.

But this year’s offering can almost not end soon enough, as he will get to fulfil a long-standing ambition in the new year – completing his audition at the Phoenix Club. Steve appeared as a useless auditionee at the end of an episode of Peter Kay’s now legendary sitcom Phoenix Nights back in 2001. And no sooner will his panto run as Silly Billy in Sleeping Beauty come to an end at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, on Sunday, than he will be into rehearsals for the live remake of the show which will run at Manchester Arena for a fortnight from Saturday, January 31.

“We’ve not got that many rehearsals,” he said, “and I don’t know what I will be doing, it’s all very secretive from those who’ve written it and we’ve not got scripts yet.

“I never got to do my act on Phoenix Nights, as I was meant to be a rubbish juggler… But without giving too much away, I will finally get to conclude my act.”

Read the whole story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30477588
(c) The Gazette, Blackpool (Anna Cryer) 2014.

Sleeping Beauty runs at the Grand Theatre, Church Street, Blackpool, until Sunday. Call (01253) 290190 for tickets.