Presenter, comedian and actress Mel Giedroyc has withdrawn from the upcoming touring pantomime Mother Goose, it has been announced. The 54-year-old former Great British Bake Off host has revealed she made the "difficult decision" due to "personal reasons".
Mel was due to star alongside Sir Ian McKellen and comedian John Bishop when the show launches in December at Theatre Royal Brighton before moving to the West End and then heading on a UK tour. But on Wednesday, October 19 it was announced she would no longer be starring in the production.
In a statement Mel, who was due to play the Goose, thank the producers for their "understanding". She said: "Due to personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the forthcoming production of Mother Goose.
“I am thankful to the producers of the show for being so understanding and wish everyone involved in the production a fantastic tour throughout the UK and Ireland. Now, more than ever we all need a bit of joy, and I can’t wait to see it myself. I know it is going to be fantastic.”
ATG Productions confirmed the role would be re-cast in a tweet that read: "Everyone in the show sends love and best wishes to Mel and her family. Casting for the role of The Goose will be announced soon."
The pantomime, written by Coronation Street’s Jonathan Harvey and directed by Cal McCrystal, tells the story of Mother Goose and her husband Vic, who run an animal sanctuary and live a wholesome life inside an abandoned Debenhams department store, but the sudden arrival of a goose causes upheaval.
The show will also star Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Jack, Simbi Akande as Jill, Sharon Ballard as Evil Fairy Malignia and Karen Mavundukure as Good Fairy Encanta. The pantomime is set to open at the Theatre Royal Brighton from December 3.
It will run until December 11 before moving to the West End at the Duke of York’s Theatre between December 15 and January 29 and then heading on a UK tour until April - starting at Chichester Festival Theatre, heading to Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Oxford and Dublin before ending in the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
For more details on tickets and the production visit mothergooseshow.co.uk
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