PANTO stars in Christchurch were treated to a visit from Star Wars actor Guy Henry after their show last week.

The actor, who made his stage debut in Highcliffe, visited the Regent Centre in Christchurch on Friday to congratulate the Highcliffe Charity Players' (HCP) cast of Snow White.

Mr Henry, who is patron of the group, attended the performance with his mother Diz, and went up on stage afterwards to meet the cast.

He said: "My mum and I had a wonderful time with Snow White and the entire company of HCP's latest charity extravaganza.

"All panto was here - corny gags, twirling terpsichore (CORR), soaring songs and splendid Dizzy G, the rapping dwarf.

"Huge congratulations to talented duo Paul Barrington and son Charles for imaginative direction of a terrific show."

Guy, who plays surgeon Henrik Hanssen in BBC One's Holby City and appears in the new Star Wars film Rogue One, made his stage debut in Highcliffe at the age of 11 playing a footman in Cinderella in the early 1970s.

His parents Diz and Michael Henry were founder members of the company.

HCP chairman Georgina Smith, who played the Wicked Queen in Snow White, said: “It was really special to have Guy in the audience, it's so good of him to find time in his busy schedule to come and see us.

"He is a great supporter of HCP and we are very lucky to have him as our president.

"We look forward to welcoming him to our next production – the musical Made in Dagenham – which we are performing at the Regent Centre in July."

Mr Henry was invited to become the group's first president after praising the group during an appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2013.

As well as his roles in Holby City and Star Wars, he has also appeared in Extras, Rome and Harry Potter, as well as his stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.