Bradford's Alhambra pantomime is a family affair for its star Billy Pearce - his wife and son are also in the show!

The panto, Peter Pan, stars Yorkshire comic Billy as Mr Smee, Captain Hook's bumbling sidekick.

But joining him in the spotlight is his wife Kerry as a dancer in the show and the couple's seven-year-old son Jack is playing one of the Lost Boys.

"I can't believe we're on stage together," Billy said on the opening night of the panto, when he introduced Jack to the audience.

"He was a bit embarrassed by that and he's told me not to single him out anymore," Billy later told the T&A. "He's really enjoying it, he loves performing with the other children.

"Usually when I'm in panto it's a case of me going off to work and leaving them at home, so it's lovely to have my family around me in Bradford this Christmas."

Billy has been looking forward to returning to Bradford for what will be his eighth panto here.

He said: "I love it here, it's a great theatre. I love the staff and the crew. I've been coming here so long it's like home to me."

Last year Billy appeared in the Alhambra's Aladdin, pulling in record-breaking crowds of more than 96,000, an increase of 16,000 on the previous year when he took a break from Bradford and appeared in panto at Wolverhampton.

And Billy's turn as Dick Whittington in the Alhambra panto of 2004/2005 saw the theatre raking in more than £1,300,000 - making it the highest grossing pantomime in the venue's history.

This year Billy has had a hand in the script, and other familiar faces will be joining the cast, including stunt troupe The Acromaniacs as the pirates. Indian princess Tiger Lily is played by Roni Elizabeth Hart, who appeared alongside Billy in Cinderella at the Alhambra four years ago.

He said: "Panto is a big responsibility - and Yorkshire people want their money's worth! The story is very important; I can't just go out there and be Billy Pearce. It's not the Billy Pearce show, it's a pantomime with me in it."

l Peter Pan runs until January 27, 2008. Tickets are available on (01274) 432000.