ACTOR, singer and dancer Ray Quinn will be taking the lead role in Aladdin at the Lighthouse Poole from December 7 to January 6.

Ray is best known as an X Factor finalist in 2006 and winner of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2009.

This is the venue’s third home produced panto following the success of Peter Pan and Cinderella. Ray, who is currently touring the UK in the musical Legally Blonde, has a very special connection with the local area, having recently married Bournemouth-born West End star Emma Stephens in a private ceremony on a Caribbean beach.

The happy couple are also celebrating the news that they are expecting a baby in July and plan to decorate the newborn’s nursery in their apartment in Poole.

Liverpool-born Ray will be joined by one of Britain’s most experienced panto performers Don Maclean, who many will remember from the hit 1970s BBC children’s show Crackerjack.

Don, who has been awarded an MBE and received a Papal Knighthood from the Pope himself, will be making his 40th appearance in pantomime this year as Widow Twankey and has even been given the accolade of being named as one of the Top Ten Dames in the country by prestigious theatre publication, The Stage.

In addition to Ray and Don will be American actor Tim Flavin, who will be playing the evil Abanazar. Tim, who has won numerous awards for his work in hit musicals on Broadway and in the West End, was also the first American to receive the Laurence Olivier Award in 1984 for his performance in the musical On Your Toes.

Ray Quinn, who performed at Lighthouse in 2007, began his career in the hugely popular Channel 4 soap Brookside playing Anthony Murray, winning a number of awards for his role.

However, the multi-talented performer is perhaps best known for his appearance on X Factor in 2006, coming second to Leona Lewis and going on to have a number one platinum selling album and a sell-out shows across the UK.

In 2009 Ray was crowned the winner of ITV’s Dancing on Ice, dazzling viewers with his spectacular skills and cheeky personality.

Tickets are on sale now.