IT’S panto season – but some of the stars’ off-stage antics they would certainly like to put behind them.
From drug scandals to secret porn careers and dramatic medical issues, the traditional Christmas musical comedy show has seen plenty of controversy over the years.
This week a director who had insisted “diverse casting is a must” was accused of hypocrisy over the actors starring in his own production.
Mark Chatterton, who is directing The Scouse Dick Whittington in Liverpool, was accused of failing to include “culturally diverse casting”.
The Sun on Sunday revisits some of panto’s worst slap-sticky moments . . .
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EastEnders star Leslie Grantham, who played Dirty Den Watts, was allegedly caught pleasuring himself on a webcam in his dressing room while dressed as Captain Hook during a run of Peter Pan.
Images of him simultaneously sucking his finger suggestively and insulting fellow cast members went viral in 2003.
In 2007 former Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan left Jack And The Beanstalk in Preston after swearing in front of kids at a Christmas lights switch-on.
Later on Celebrity Big Brother he blamed wine and listening to Eminem on stage for his “slip of the tongue” — “Make some motherf***ing noise.”
Musical star Craig Chalmers was cast as Prince Charming at Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre in 2012 but was fired after his secret porno past was revealed.
He had previously starred in the adult entertainment business under the name Ryan Ryder, and produced home-made porn during lockdown.
Singer Lee Ryan, of boyband Blue, pulled out of an Aladdin performance half way through a show in 2018 citing a chest infection — but was later allegedly seen in his local Wetherspoons.
Shameless actress Tina Malone was sacked from playing evil fairy Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at The Cloud Nine Theatre in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in 2017 after admitting cocaine possession.
She later accepted a police caution.
Actor and comedian Rufus Hound was left in tears after he was accused of “racism and yellow-face” in the poster for his role as evil magician Abanazar in Peterborough’s Aladdin in 2021.
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The poster was replaced.
In 2018 former soap actress Roxanne Pallett was due to star in Cinderella in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
But a disastrous appearance on Celebrity Big Brother sealed her fate.
On the show she accused housemate Ryan Thomas of punching her, yet cameras showed him punching the air.
“Punchgate” caused a public backlash — and Roxanne’s hopes of panto glory were reduced to Cinders.
They’re not all bad though. Seventies pop singer Donny Osmond played Captain Hook in Brum in 2018 and had a stroke on stage.
He heroically completed the performance before heading to hospital.
