But as is traditional these days, the stars came out in style as the cast of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs launched Sheffield Lyceum's 2010 offering.

The ever popular Damian Williams stars as Nurse Nellie, Toyah Wilcox plays the Wicked Witch and comedian and radio Sheffield presenter Toby Foster is making his first steps into the world of panto as the Dame's son Muddles, who gets everything wrong.

I caught up with Toby and Toyah after they posed for the customary promotional snaps.

Said Toby: "I came to see Aladdin last year with my kids. I saw Damian playing the dame and he was so good at it, I decided I would like to have a go!

"There is nothing finer than making a lot of kids laugh at Christmas. I cannot think of a higher calling.

Snow White It is a bit odd to be working with Toyah – when I was 14, she was the gorgeous girl at the top of the charts – and she is still gorgeous".

It is going to be a busy year ahead for the popular comedian who has made Radio Sheffield's morning show, his own with his mixture of banter and current affairs.

He is taking to the stage in a series of mystery plays at Monk Bretton Priory from June 29 to July 11 and there is a film in the pipeline, working alongside Joss Stone, so he can't say much about it at the moment.

Toby of course, rose to fame in Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights – but it is a little known fact his first job was at your very own South Yorkshire Times advertising department!

"Aye it was when it was based down Station Road at Mexborough. I was in classifieds – the only lad with a team of lovely women who mothered me.

"The funny thing was everybody smoked in the office – you don't see that these days do you?

"I really enjoy the localness of radio Sheffield and I have always been an avid reader of local newspapers."

Toyah has been no stranger to controversy during her 30 year career, which has seen her top the charts with arty-punk hits like It's a Mystery, star in iconic films like Quadrophenia – and latterly bare her life in reality TV shows. She is also now something of a veteran in the panto world.

She said: "I have played the Witch Queen about six times and I love it. I do like to make the audience hate me."

Toyah is keeping busy in a similar gothic way with a 50-date tour of the Rocky-Horror style Vampires Rock as well as touring with her own arthouse band The Humans.

"I have always Iiked to push the boundaries in different ways – and now I am in my 50s I can get away with it.

"Every new birthday I am told I am too old but every decade there are new challenges.

"I love doing things which take people by surprise."

Tickets for Sheffield Lyceum's 2009 Pantomime 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' are on sale now. Box Office 0114 249 6000.