STARS of TV comedies Only Fools and Horses and Benidorm are lined up for this year's Alhambra pantomime, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal today.

Bradford Theatres has announced the headline cast for the show, Jack and the Beanstalk, and once again the cast will be headed by Yorkshire funnyman Billy Peace, headlining his 17th Alhambra panto.

Joining Billy on stage will be John Challis, alias Boycie in classic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, as the villainous Fleshcreep; Jake Canuso, who plays Mateo in Benidorm, as The Broadbean; and Lisa Riley as the Spirit of the Beans.

Billy has performed in five children’s Royal Variety Shows and three Royal Variety Shows and is currently touring the UK with his stand-up show Funny Guy.

Lisa Riley shot to fame playing Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale and went on to appear in TV dramas such as Fat Friends, Waterloo Road and Scott and Bailey. She was a hit competing in the 2013 series of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing and her theatre credits include Calendar Girls and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

John Challis has enjoyed a 50-year career that has included roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. After playing Boycie in Only Fools and Horses he reprised the role in spin-off series The Green Green Grass.

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Jake Canuso is best known as Mateo in hit ITV comedy Benidorm, and has also appeared in TV dramas The Hour and Shameless and films such as Nine and The Dark Knight Rises.

Jack and the Beanstalk will be staged by Qdos Entertainment. The production is expected to showcase a range of special effects, following the tradition of recent years which saw Billy soaring above the audience in a flying car during last year's show, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and on a spectacular flying carpet which rotated 360 degrees above the auditorium in Aladdin the previous year.

An enormous gorilla thrilled audiences in Aladdin, and last Christmas the wicked Queen was accompanied by a giant pterodactyl.

Qdos managing director Michael Harrison said: “We are thrilled that Billy, Lisa, John and Jake will lead West Yorkshire’s biggest pantomime.

"The sensational cast, combined with magnificent scenery, fabulous costumes, and the return of 3D special effects, guarantees that Jack and the Beanstalk is going to be another unmissable Alhambra Theatre panto!”

Jack and the Beanstalk runs from December 12 to January 24. Tickets go on sale on April 13 on (01274) 432000.