THEY'RE behind you - both of them.

The "king and queen" of the York panto scene have gathered together with their casts ready for the festive season.

Neighbours star Anne Charleston, who played Madge before her untimely death in the popular soap opera, is starring as Queen Rat at the Grand Opera House performance of Dick Whittington.

More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the production, which also stars Jean Fergusson, of Last Of The Summer wine fame.

The show runs from tomorrow until January 6.

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the 65 performances of Jack And The Beanstalk, written, starring and co-directed by the one and only Berwick Kaler, are going through the roof.

Sales are well over 38,000 for the show, which runs from tonight until February 2.

Berwick will be playing the part of Fanny Shufflebottom in the production, which staff at the Theatre Royal are confident will be the busiest ever.

Tickets for the respective shows are available from the Theatre Royal box office, tel 01904 623568, and the Opera House box office, tel 01904 671818.

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, December 12, 2001