Stuart Wade and Tonicha Jeronimo are to star in a show together for the first time since leaving Emmerdale.

The real-life partners, who played Biff and Linda Fowler in the Yorkshire Television soap, will be appearing as Buttons and Cinderella respectively in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House, York.

Yesterday, they were joined by Gladiator Ace and other members of Simon Barry's cast at the pantomime launch. In the afternoon, they paraded around the streets of York in a horse-drawn carriage; in the evening they attended the launch ball hosted by pantomime producers New Pantomime Productions at the Opera House.

In attendance were not only Stuart, Tonicha and Ace - Warren Furman, but also pantomime co-stars Richard Franklin, who will play Baron Hardup; Fairy Godmother, Julia Barnett; Prince Charming, Kevin Bourne and Ugly Sisters Phil Randall and Stevie Marc.

Stuart and Tonicha originally had been scheduled to perform together in pantomime at Dorking last year but the arrival of their baby, Lorcan, put paid to that plan. Stuart went ahead with his performance as Wishee-Washee in Aladdin; Tonicha stayed at home, in West Yorkshire to look after the new addition.

"I'm really excited about the prospect of doing the show together with Stuart," says Tonicha. "And no, I'm definitely not pregnant this time!"

Stuart says their past performances together in Emmerdale will work to their advantage in Cinderella. "I know how Tonicha works as an actress; she knows how I work. I think people will accept us quite easily on stage together as they know us as a couple on TV."

Having a child of their own will help their performance too, Stuart believes. "It hits home that pantomime is a child's show, and now being a daddy, somewhere along the line it makes me feel I've developed communication skills with children," he says.

Cinderella will run from December 14 to January 7 at the Grand Opera House. To book tickets, ring 01904 671818.

PICTURE: Having a ball in York: Stuart Wade, left, Gladiator Ace and Tonicha Jeronimo launch the Grand Opera House pantomime, Cinderella.