DAME Berwick Kaler made the Huddlines by being presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for a second time at the third annual Great British Pantomime Awards.

Panto stalwart Roy Hudd handed him the honour at last Sunday's awards ceremony at the New Theatre, Wimbledon, to mark the York Theatre Royal's 40-year damehood that came to an end with The Grand Old Dame Of York last Christmas.

Dame Berwick retired from the pantomime stage on February 2 when the final performance climaxed with fellow veteran dame Christopher Biggins presenting him with the Lifetime Achievement gong for the first time. Ironically, Biggins was present again at last Sunday's awards, hosting the event.

For the third year running, Theatre Royal regular baddie David Leonard missed out on Best Male Villain, pipped this time by Robert Lindsay in his panto debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Richmond Theatre.

Likewise, Theatre Royal designer Mark Walters lost out in the Best Staging and Set category, a prize that went to Victoria Spearing for Dick Whittington at the South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell.

Harriet Hare, soon to play Mollie Ralston in The Mousetrap at the Grand Opera House, York, from May 20 to 25, took home the Best Principal Girl award for her title role in Jack And The Beanstalk at Harrogate Theatre.

Dame Berwick, meanwhile, is to write and co-direct York Theatre Royal's 2019-2020 pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, for its December 7 to January 25 run.