In this Christmas Day pantomime, a major television personality takes on the role of the classic Arabian hero.
This traditional pantomime follows the adventures of Aladdin (Cilla Black), a humble laundry boy living with his mother, Widow Twankey (Norman Vaughan), and brother, Wishee Washee (Roy Castle). The wicked magician Abanazar (Alfred Marks) coerces Aladdin into retrieving a magic lamp from an enchanted cave. With the help of the lamp’s Genie (Sandra Michaels), Aladdin escapes his predicament and uses his newfound power to win the heart of the beautiful Princess (Elaine Paige) and defeat his nemesis.
Recorded at the Wimbledon Theatre, this production was a centrepiece of the BBC’s 1971 Christmas Day schedule. Rather than a studio-bound play, the programme captured the energy and scale of a live theatrical pantomime for a television audience. The casting followed tradition, with singer and entertainer Cilla Black taking on the principal boy role. The production was a formidable showcase of British light entertainment talent, surrounding its star with a cast of beloved veterans including Roy Castle, Alfred Marks, and Norman Vaughan. It was produced and directed by Michael Hurll, one of the BBC’s most influential figures in variety and entertainment programming.
Broadcast: BBC One, 1 Episode, 25 December 1971
Written by: Ronnie Taylor
Based on a book by: Phil Park and Albert J. Knight
Producer: Michael Hurll
Director: Michael Hurll
Choreography: Irving Davies
Music: Ronnie Hazlehurst and his Orchestra
Main Cast: Cilla Black (Aladdin), Alfred Marks (Abanazar), Roy Castle (Wishee Washee), Norman Vaughan (Widow Twankey), Elaine Paige (Princess), Tom Chatto (Emperor), Derek Dene (Chief Of Police), Milton Reid (Slave), Sandra Michaels (Genie)
