JONATHAN Wilkes has vowed to lift the doom and gloom of the credit crunch by giving Stoke-on-Trent its best panto yet.

The Potteries entertainer is determined to put the feel-good factor back into the city when he takes to the stage for the Regent Theatre's production of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

At the star-studded panto launch at Trentham Gardens yesterday, Jonathan hinted there would be a surprise cameo appearance in the show from a "famous face".

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Speaking two days after returning from a six-week stay with Robbie Williams in Los Angeles, Jonathan, who plays the Prince in this year's panto, said: "A lot of people are going through a difficult time at the minute with how the economy is.

"We know they will be spending their hard-earned money coming to watch the panto and we want to make sure we put on the best show possible for them.

"Panto is a good way to escape everyday life and we want to lift some of the gloom and give people a great night out.

"I look forward to doing the panto in Stoke all year and I will keep doing it until they don't want me to do it anymore.

"This is my fourth year now and I really do believe we have the best panto in the country.

"People are going to see the best show yet this year, the production is just amazing."

He added: "There will be an appearance from a famous face which I think is going to surprise a lot of people, it's a good one."

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs comes a year after the success of Cinderella and about £1 million is being spent on the show, which is being produced by First Family Entertainment.

Jonathan will be joined on stage by a cast including popular actress and singer Claire Sweeney as the Wicked Queen, West End star Chloe-Jean Bishop as Snow White and Stoke's Top Talent winner, singer Daniel Hewitt.

Daniel, aged 21, who lives in Fenton, said he couldn't wait to get on stage.

He said: "It's going to be an amazing feeling once I'm standing on the stage on the opening night.

"I've seen the script and I've got quite a big part in the show which is great. I want to be as involved as much as possible.

"I can't say too much on exactly what it is I'll be doing in the panto.

"Jonathan is like a brother to me and it's great to be working with Claire Sweeney too.

"I'm sure I'll learn a lot from them both."

Former Coronation Street star Eric Potts has once again penned the script for the panto, but this time with a helping hand from film star Warwick Davis, who is assistant director to the show.

Warwick, is well-known for his role in Star Wars and as Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter movies.

He said: "We've got a brilliant cast together for the show and some very funny lines and jokes in the script.

"With Jonathan and Dan being local, it gives us a good feel for the audience so there will be quite a lot of local references in there too.

"There is quite a big twist in the script which I think will surprise a lot of people."

Organisers are promising a night of "fantastic special effects" and "sensational songs" and tickets for this year's show are already at a record-breaking level.

Chris McGuigan, marketing manager at the Regent Theatre, said: "The tickets for Snow White went on sale straight after Cinderella last year and people starting buying them then.

"It's going to be a special show this year."

Tickets for the show, which runs from Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, January 11 range from £13 to £22. To book, call the box office on 0870 060 6649.