As York stage legend Berwick Kaler prepares to announce his 40th panto for York Theatre Royal, MAXINE GORDON looks back through his decades as a dame

BERWICK Kaler will make history on February 3 when he announces, as is custom, the title of his next panto.

The unveiling of the next show traditionally takes place on the last night of the panto's run – but this year's announcement will be extra special because 2018 marks Berwick's 40th anniversary as a pantomime dame.

The actor's incredible run at York Theatre Royal has seen him crowned Britain's longest-serving panto dame, with his first outing back in 1977 in Cinderella. The run has been continuous bar from a two-year break in 1986 and 1987.

Fans are on tenterhooks to learn if Berwick will make the 40th show his last. Now aged 71, the Sunderland-born star underwent a double heart bypass in July.

And no doubt they will be queueing up – again as tradition dictates – from March, when tickets go on sale.

As you can imagine, we have scores of photos of Berwick over the years, but we dug deep into the archive to bring you some shots of the actor in his earlier days as York's best-loved panto dame.

There's a lively snap of him with as Widow Twanky in 1981, where a giant champagne bottle and a long-legged co-star are vying for attention.

The following year, we pictured him with some young fans as he prepared for his role in Babes In The Wood. In 1984, he was preparing to sail the high seas in Sinbad the Sailor.

In 1988, we caught up with him and a group of pupils from Huntington School while he took a break from rehearsals of Humpty Dumpty.

Two years later he was accompanied by the cast of Aladdin to signal the new decade.

Who would have thought he would still be going strong almost 30 years later? Oh yes he is!

Berwick Kaler is currently starring in Jack & The Beanstalk at York Theatre Royal until Saturday, February 3. For tickets, visit: yorktheatreroyal.co.uk