Delia Smith to star in Norwich Theatre Royal panto Aladdin

The celebrity chef will voice the Great Spirit of Norwich in this year's panto at the Norwich Theatre Royal.

“I am delighted to join the Norwich Theatre panto and can’t wait for it to kick off," she said. "Pantomime is such a wonderful tradition and a fantastic opportunity to bring joy and laughter to our community."

Delia Smith will voice the Great Spirit of Norwich in Alladin at the Norwich Theatre Royal (Image: Norwich Theatre Royal)

The 83-year-old will star alongside Joe Tracini - back by popular demand for his fifth year - who will play Aladdin's brother Reg.

She also joins West End star Tarik Frimpong who plays the lead role.

Chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre, Stephen Crocker said: "In every production of Aladdin, the spirit is a hugely important part of the story as its presence and influence looks after and guides the hero of the story on his journey towards his fame, fortune and happiness.  

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Tarik Frimpong stars as Aladdin at Norwich Theatre Royal this Christmas (Image: Supplied by Norwich Theatre) “As Delia and Michael come to the end of their time as the guiding spirits of Norwich City Football Club, I couldn’t think of a more fun and appropriate way to mark this than to enrol Delia in the Norwich Panto Hall of Fame as the voice of the spirit in this year’s Theatre Royal Panto.

“I am so thrilled that she agreed with her usual sense of fun and in the Panto setting of Norwich on the Verge this Christmas her voice will play the role of the Great Spirit of Norwich. A Norwich icon in every sense.”

Mark Attanasio's Norfolk Holdings group recently took majority control of Norwich City from Smith and her husband Michael Wynn Jones.

Aladdin opens at Norwich Theatre Royal on December 7 and runs until January 5.