Barbara Windsor to star in Bristol panto

EastEnders star Barbara Windsor has announced that she is to appear in a Bristol pantomime at Christmas.

The 72-year-old actress will play the part of Fairy Bowbells in a production of Dick Whittington at the city's Hippodrome theatre.

Windsor's panto role is her first confirmed project since she revealed that she is to bow out as Albert Square's Peggy Mitchell later this year.

Speaking to the Bristol Evening Post, Windsor commented: "I am thrilled to be returning to the stage in this year's production of Dick Whittington in Bristol.

"I have made no secret of the fact that I have been bursting to perform in pantomime again and the Bristol Hippodrome is a theatre I have always longed to play. This show will take me into my 60th year in showbusiness and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it."

Dick Whittington will run at the Hippodrome from Saturday, December 11 until Sunday, January 9.