Dance star George Sampson told the Echo that he is excited to be coming to Dorset to appear in this year’s Weymouth pantomime.

The Britain’s Got Talent winner will be playing the role of the prince in this year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to be performed at Weymouth Pavilion.

The Cheshire-based star won the televised talent competition in 2008 with his hip hop interpretation of Singing in the Rain, and since then has appeared on TV, film and in the theatre.

He is familiar to the Dorset area, and said he lived in Wimborne for around a year in 2018 and has friends in Weymouth, saying that joining the panto in the resort was ‘an obvious choice.’

He said: “I was asked to do six or seven pantos, with some closer to home in Warrington, but I wanted the chance to go back down to Dorset over Christmas."

George spoke about what makes the county special to him: “Dorset is a really pretty place, much more pleasing to the eye where I’m from.  

“The people in Dorset are so friendly and welcoming, it has a real northern feel where everyone offers you a cuppa - I’m so excited to be heading back.”

The star, who also appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road said “This is my fifteenth panto, but it’s only the third time that I’m playing the prince - before I have been cast as the young hero.

“But now, because I am a man, I’ve been cast as the prince for the third time now, so it still feels fresh.”

Talking about what audiences can expect from this year’s performance, George said they can expect a ‘big, quality production’ with some big song and dance numbers. Overall good family fun."

Speaking about his role as the prince, George said: “You can expect a lot of charm, and maybe a dance at some point.”

George also hinted at an adults-only performance of the show, which the star has not done before in his career, but is excited about.

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs is brought to Weymouth by the same team behind previous Weymouth pantos Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and Rapunzel.

It's on at the Pavilion from December 16-31.

Tickets will range from £18.50 to £22.50 and can be purchased at weymouthpavilion.co.uk