91Èȱ¬

A burly star of the new Gladiators TV series will continue to display his mean streak when the curtain goes up on his debut pantomime performance at the end of this year.

Nick Aldis is the latest name to be added to the cast for Norwich Theatre Royal's pantomime, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.

The Wicked Queen's muscular servant-to-be

The 21-year-old has become a well-known face since clinching a place in the Gladiators' squad, after the TV show - which was axed by ITV in 2000 - was revived by Sky One and given a prime time Saturday night slot.

Nick, from Docking in north-west Norfolk, has been seen pitting his power against a string of contestants as the intimidating Oblivion - and his new panto role will show a similar dominating strength when he pulls on his breeches and tights to play the Wicked Queen's sidekick.

Pro-wrestler

The muscle-bound TV star, who launched his career in entertainment as a professional wrestler, is delighted to have secured his first pantomime job as he pursues acting full-time.

"Acting is definitely something that I've really wanted to get into and pantomime is a big milestone for me because it was one of the goals I set myself," said Nick. "I've always wanted to do panto."

Nick visited the city theatre as a child

The call to take part in the show came six weeks ago, with Nick pleased to have made the casting rounds for this year.

"My agent and me were talking about panto because I said I really wanted to do it," said Nick, who attended Smithdon High School and Sixth Form in Hunstanton.

"He had a view to getting me booked for pantomime any way but then when Gladiators came along - because Gladiators was a very short turnaround for the production - we were short-listed for auditions at the end of February, early March.

"Considering we filmed in April and May, it all came around really quickly, but once you become a television personality it opens up a lot of doors."

Cast so far

The Theatre Royal's production of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs also features popular actress Liza Goddard, who lives in Norfolk, Neighbours' Caitlin Stasey and the theatre's panto stalwart Richard Gauntlett.

Although Nick has only been given an outline of his character and part for the show, which opens on 16 December 2008, he's been told he will have to call on some comic timing when working with his fellow actors, who he's slightly in awe of.

"I'm quite intimidated to be alongside such accomplished actors," said Nick.

However, he doesn't seem to be as fazed by the small size of the costume that he'llÌý wear for his performance to show off his well-honed body.

"I feel a bit out of shape at the moment because I've been on holiday, but by the time panto comes around I'll be hoping to be in the best shape of my life, so hopefully I'll be looking to expose as much of it as possible," he joked.