RTE Love/Hate star set to star in this year's panto as he returns to Fair City
It is set to be a busy few months for the Dublin actor
by Sandra Mallon · Irish MirrorActor Johnny Ward has announced he will star in this year’s panto amid his return to Fair City.
The Dubliner announced his return to the RTÉ One soap two weeks ago and now Johnny will also be spending Christmas in The National Stadium in Dublin as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast - A Sammy & Buffy adventure.
Producer Karl Broderick said Johnny is “made for panto”. He said: "Johnny is made for panto. In fact, he was in our first ever panto, aged just nine years old, where he was part of a child version of Boyzone called Boyzonly.
READ MORE: Johnny Ward reacts to Fair City losing an episode a week after stringent RTE cuts: 'It's a shame'
“Johnny played Stephen and Ronan was played by Kodaline frontman Steve Garrigan. I then saw him steal the show in Copperface Jacks the musical and immediately wanted him back in our panto; he'll be phenomenal as Gaston."
Running at the National Stadium in Dublin from December 10 until January 5, Johnny is reunited with panto favourites Alan Hughes, who will once again play the iconic Sammy Sausages, and Rob Murphy, who has been referred to as 'Queen of The Panto Dames' and returns as man-mad Buffy.
They will be joined by songstress Susan McFadden as Fairytaler Swift, West End star Niall Sheehy as the Beast/Prince and Caoileann Woodcock, who won the coveted role of Belle from over 100 hopefuls.
Tickets on sale now from panto.ie. This year they've introduced Family Tickets, with tickets for a family of 4 costing €99.
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