AJ Pritchard will play Peter Pan in his first-ever pantomime.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star is making a move from waltzing across the ballroom floor to soaring above the stage as the boy who doesn’t grow up, and he’s excited to take on the role in a production this Christmas at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
He said: "Peter Pan has been one of my dream roles since I was a child.
"I’m really looking forward to my first pantomime and can’t wait – not only come to Dunstable but more importantly to fly to Neverland."
According to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column, the pro dancer will try to strike a balance between his ‘Strictly’ commitments and rehearsals for the stage show.
Last month, the 24-year-old star revealed he would love to be the first pro on the show to be paired with a male celebrity, and he has backed calls for bosses to feature same sex couples.
He recently said: "If they do decide to finally do same-sex partners on ‘Strictly’ this year I 100 per cent want to be the pro to do it…
"If it’s going to be anyone [in a same-sex pairing], I’d like it to be me. I’m 100 per cent the pro to do it. I guess it all depends on who the celebrity contestants are this year."
AJ insisted gender "doesn’t matter" when it comes to dancing and thinks a same-sex pairing would be "captivating" for viewers.
He added: "So I think we have to wait and see; but if same-sex partnerships do happen it’s going to be so captivating. And I am very open to it.
"People enjoy seeing bodies moving, it doesn’t matter [about gender]."
AJ Pritchard cast as Peter Pan in first panto show
