POTTERIES celebrity Jonathan Wilkes has promised to make the next Regent Theatre panto the best ever.

Jonathan starts a well-earned break today after the month-long run of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs ended yesterday.

And Jonathan believes it has been the best show yet.

"It has been my favourite one, and I think it has been everyone's favourite of the ones I have been in," he said.

"It's getting stronger and stronger every year. It has become a tradition.

"We have broken box office records again, which is fantastic. It will be a challenge to top Snow White next year, but we will."

Jonathan says the audience's response has been overwhelming.

"People have loved it this year," he said.

"They've been coming up to me and saying they can't wait for next year already.

"We have been voted in the top three pantos in the country in The Stage magazine and people have travelled from all over to see it, which is great for the city."

This was Jonathan's fourth Regent panto, and he has no plans to give it up just yet.

"People ask me why I am still doing it," he said. "But they know with me they will get a great show because I throw my heart into it.

"I love going to the stage door at the end and having young and old saying to me they have had a really good night."

This year's panto has also been a fantastic experience for Stoke's Top Talent winner Daniel Hewitt, from Fenton, who won the role of the Young Prince.

He said: "It has been the best time of my life and I'm sad it's over."

Daniel has not decided what to do next, but wants to stay in the entertainment business and is considering training at theatre school.

Bosses at The Regent are delighted by the success of Snow White, which also starred TV presenter and West End actress Claire Sweeney as the Wicked Queen.

Marketing manager Chris McGuigan said: "Feedback has been exceptional and many people have already secured tickets for next year's production, Dick Whittington."