GRAND Opera House pantomime favourite Stuart Wade will be taking on a new guise in Jack And The Beanstalk this winter in York.

For the first time, the former Emmerdale soap star will be wearing the dame's costumes when he plays Tilly Trott in a break from pantomimes aplenty in the silly-billy role as the comic clown.

Joining Stuart in Simon Barry's cast will be Scooch pop duo Russ Spencer and Caroline Barnes as Jack and Jill on their return to the Grand Opera House after appearing as Dandini and a streetwise Fairy Godmother respectively in Cinderella last Christmas.

Jade Ellis, from the 2012 series of The X Factor, will take the role of Fairy Peapod, while Lewis Bloor, from The Only Way Is Essex has been cast as Prince Willy.

Stuart Wade, who combined playing Buttons with co-directing Cinderella last winter, is looking forward to his dramatic transformation into the dame. "Tilly Trott is a lovely Yorkshire lass but she’s so confused as to why her sons speak like Londoners," he says. "Seriously though, I’ve spent so many years playing the Buttons-type roles that it’s really great to have a new challenge.”

New Pantomime Productions will be presenting their 17th successive Grand Opera House pantomime under Simon Barry's directorship from December 11 to January 3.

Barry promises a "spectacular, fun-packed show for all the family with crazy costumes, silly jokes, live music, and a chance to boo the baddies" in the story of Jack, who lives in a small village with his Ma.

They are very poor and when they look in the kitchen cupboards for food, all they can find is a piece of mouldy cheese, a rotten apple core and a pair of smelly socks. They must do something, but what? Find out what happens when Jack takes their old cow to the market and ends up selling her for five beans.

Further starring roles, in particular the villain, will be announced soon, so watch this space. Meanwhile, tickets can be booked on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york/