HE may be languishing in a prison cell somewhere near Weatherfield as far as Coronation Street residents are concerned, but Corrie bad boy Rob Donovan – aka Marc Baylis – is actually gearing up for pantomime season.

This year, St Helens Theatre Royal is staging the greatest rags to riches story of them all - Cinderella - and if the launch is anything to go by, theatregoers are in for an absolute treat.

It did feel a bit strange watching excerpts from the panto and eating mince pies on a sunny October afternoon, but even the sneak preview had everyone in stitches.

In addition to Marc, the line-up also includes Benidorm star Crissy Rock as one of the Ugly Sisters alongside Charlie Griffiths, Laura Gregory as Cinderella and Simon Foster as the Dame.

St Helens Star:

No stranger to treading the boards, Marc’s theatre credits include the UK tour of Hamlet, The Bell’s Stratagem for Southwark Playhouse and Prick Up Your Ears for Comedy Theatre as well as TV appearances in Eastenders and Hollyoaks. This is his second panto after starring in Sleeping Beauty in Bromley last year.

He is also involved with a film due to be released next year - a sci-fi thriller called Arcadia, but before then we’ll see him back on our screens causing yet more trouble in Coronation Street over Christmas and New Year - even from his prison cell.

St Helens Star:

Marc admitted he was surprised to be returning so soon after being sent down for murder.

“It’s just for 10 weeks, so it’s a short stint, but he’s back to stir things up for the Connors,” said Marc, who starred in Coronation Street for just under three years.

 


Audiences will be able to ‘boo and hiss’ for real as his role in Cinderella is the dastardly Dandini.

“Panto is a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to it. And of course, it’s live so it’s great getting the reaction from the audience - every night is different."

Cinderella runs from December 4 to January 10 and tickets are now on sale.