Aladdin, Grand Opera House, York, until January 5

HE may be playing a character called Wishee Washee, but Jon Clegg is looking to make a strong impression in Aladdin in his York debut.

The Surrey-raised comedian and impressionist, who worked overseas before swapping Spanish sunshine for the English Riviera of Brighton, is not fazed by the prospect of playing a northern city. "York is about as far from Brighton as you can get but I think humour works anywhere, and it carries everywhere in this country, as long as it's all kept pretty simple," says Jon.

"You have to keep it current as well, and always do comedy about topical things, especially things on TV. Like last year, when Pop Idol was on, there was endless material from that."

A further factor comes into play: "You've got to make yourself instantly likeable and be lively, and when I worked abroad, I had to entertain kids so I got to know how to have that rapport with them."

No doubt Jon will be buoyed by being in familiar company in York. Now 32, he made his pantomime debut in 2000 playing Washee in Aladdin at Ashton under Lyne, where he starred alongside James Crossley in the title role and Dad's Army veteran Frank Williams as the dame. Last Christmas, that partnership reunited in Torquay for Aladdin number two, and they have linked up again this month for Aladdin III in York.

"It's the same show but with a different cast and new gags each time, and I've always worked with James and Frank; we've had a good rapport and the director Simon Barry wanted to keep us together," says Jon.

Pantomime is a noisy working environment but Jon has been schooled at the deep end of entertainment.

"I worked in Spain, Majorca, Minorca and the Gran Canaria for four years, and it was a bit like being a Red Coat but in the hotels, which is tough!" he recalls. "Mind you, I do a lot of holiday parks in Britain and they're ten times worse.

"In panto, they're there to watch you; in holiday parks, they're out for a drink, a laugh and giving the comedian some grief. It can be a bit of a challenge...it's such a pleasure, especially in September, when the holiday prices are cheap!".

After that burst of irony, he makes a more serious point about the unpredictability of the comedian's life on the summer-holiday circuit.

"The strangest thing is, you go out one night, do your act and storm it, and then go out the following night and pretty much die on your backside, and you think 'Well, it's the audience'. What can you do?!"

The answer is, you go out the next night and the next but one because of your love of performing. "It definitely started at school for me," says Jon, explaining his desire to entertain.

"My dad's a comic and impressionist too, though he now does pretty much straight stand-up, whereas I do some singing, stand-up and impressions, but we both love making people laugh."

Impressions will play a big part in his York panto performance. "I do a lot of impressions; anyone who is current, like David Beckham, who always goes down well; Ali G; Rolf Harris; Julian Clary; Chris Eubank; Ronan Keating. I do a singing impression of him!"

Jon has, however, noticed a strange trait among impressionists.

"The ability to impersonate goes as you get older but you also get funnier as you get older, or that seems the general impression. When an old bloke who's been around the block a few times comes on to perform, that always seems funny because of his comedy face, but with a young guy somehow it's different."

Wherever he goes, be it Spain or York, he will enjoy the adventure.

"I love going to new places and travelling around. Before doing this, I travelled to Australia, Fiji and Hawaii, and I had those four years in Spain," he says. "I'm not one to complain about travelling in this business like a lot of people do. I love it!"

Aladdin, Grand Opera House, York, until January 5. Tickets: £7 to £13.50; children £8, schools and OAP groups £6 each. Box office: 01904 671818.

More panto news on page 16

Updated: 12:38 Friday, December 13, 2002