It has been announced that comedy legend Jennifer Saunders will make her pantomime debut as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at The London Palladium from 9 December-14 January.

Reported by Deadline, Saunders will star alongside Rob Madge as Tinker Bell, Julian Clary as Seaman Smee, Gary Wilmot as Henrietta Cook, Paul Zerdin as Starkey, and Nigel Havers in a currently undetermined role. Further casting is to be announced.

Jennifer Saunders said: "I could not be more delighted to be doing my first panto ever at the Palladium. I am a huge fan of panto and The Palladium always delivers. I wouldn’t want to be in Peter Pan's tiny soft shoes let me tell you, because I am going to give Hook my all!'

Producer and Director of all eight London Palladium pantomimes, Michael Harrison, said: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming comedy legend Jennifer Saunders to our panto as Captain Hook. She is going to be a sensational addition to our show. Julian Clary is without doubt one of the greatest performers ever to grace The Palladium stage and it’s also a huge pleasure to welcome back the much-loved team of Paul, Nigel and Gary. I am particularly excited that the inimitable Rob Madge loved appearing in last year’s show so much they have signed up for another year of Palladium madness!”

The production will be directed and co-written by Michael Harrison, with set design by Mark Walters, costumes by Hugh Durrant, choreography by Karen Bruce, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Gareth Owen, and composition and orchestrations by Gary Hind.

Peter Pan priority booking opens on 27 April, with a general on sale from 28 April here.