Cast Announcement - Jack and the Beanstalk 2025/26
JJ Hamblett - Jack
Jamie ‘JJ’ Hamblett was born in Newmarket Suffolk. He was a jockey until the age of21, having 270 races and riding for the likes of HM The Queen. Two years after finishing his horse racing career JJ rose to fame when appearing on the hugely popular ITV show The X Factor in 2012 with boyband UNION J, making it all the way to the Semi Final. Signing a deal with Sony subsidiary RCA Records at the end of 2012, the group released their debut single, “Carry You,” just six months later. In 2013, Union J released their self-titled, full-length debut album, featuring the single ‘Beautiful Life’. Having 4 top 10 singles and a top 10 album Union J went on to release ‘You Got It All’ which saw the group topping the UK official charts with a Number 1.With 5 top ten chart hits including a Number 1, a sold out UK arena tour and a BBC 1Radio Teen Award under their belt, Union J are one of The X Factors finest exports.
Since the band, Jamie started his acting career and completed two feature films in the UK- ‘Tango One’ (released in April 2018 with Universal) and ‘Once Upon A Time In London’ (October 2019) In August last year, He also played the lead in a short film called ‘Ethel’ alongside Miriam Margolyes. As well as acting Jamie has been presenting for ITV Racing and sky sports Racing. He has also started a travel fashion brand called swankii which is aiming to launch in 2022. After nearly 5 years apart, on May 28th2022 Union J returned with a one off show at the London Palladium and supported Christina Aguilera on her UK tour
Jamie Riding - Dame Trott
At 25 years old, Jamie Riding has established himself as a Pantomime Dame, actor, writer and family entertainer. He trained at the Jellicoe Theatre at Bournemouth and Poole College. He is Dorset born and bred.
Jamie’s professional credits include: ‘Squeaker/Tarquin’ in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (Enchanted Entertainment), ‘Mrs Smee’ in ‘Peter Pan’ (Enchanted Entertainment), ‘Francis Henshall’ in ‘One Man Two Guvnors’ (Revive Theatre), ‘Nurse Daisy Dolittle’ in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (Enchanted Entertainment), ‘Baroness Daisy Hardup’ in ‘Cinderella’(Anton Benson Productions), ‘The lion’ in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (Curtain Call Theatre Company) ‘The Cowardly Lion/Auntie Em’ in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (Anton Benson Productions), ‘Dame Daisy Trott’ in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ (Anton Benson Productions), ‘Octavia the Sea Evil Witch’ in ‘The Little Mermaid’ (Butlins, Skegness),
‘Ugly Sister’ in ‘Cinderella’ (Anton Benson Production), ‘Widow Twankey’ in ‘Aladdin’ (OCD Productions) and ‘PC Pong’ in ‘Aladdin’ (Ron Martin Management & Born 2 Perform Productions).
Known for his stylish wardrobe, Jamie is the proud owner of the working costume collection worn by the late John Inman (star of BBC’s ‘Are You Being Served?’ and legendary Pantomime Dame). He is the 3rd generation to wear these costumes after John and current Top UK Dame Malcolm Lord, who kindly donated the collection of costumes and wigs to Jamie in 2021. Some of these costumes you will see in the performance.
When not donning the frock, Jamie’s other passion in life is Puppetry and has been a professional Punch and Judy Professor for over a decade. Celebrating his 10th anniversary in 2021, the ‘Professor JR’ show has travelled across the country, regularly performing at a wide range of events including ‘The New Forest Show’, ‘Marlborough Puppetry Festival’ and the prestigious ‘Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppetry Festival’ in London. He is also a family entertainer performing at birthday parties and events with his hilarious comedy magic show as Magic Jay. You can check out his work on his website at www.JR–entertainments.co.uk
Jamie is very excited to be returning to his panto home here in Weymouth this Christmas and he hopes you have a “GAWGEOUS” time! He would like to dedicate his performance to the legendary actor Paul Hutton who sadly passed away earlier this year. Audiences may remember Paul as ‘Muddles’ in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ back in 2023.
He would also like to thank his friends and family for their continued support.
Dean Winters - Silly Simon
Dean has been in entertainment for almost 30 years, starting his career as a Butlins’ Redcoat. He is very excited to be back in pantomime this Christmas playing Jack’s silly brother Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk at Weymouth Pavilion. As an established stand-up comic, every summer for over a decade Dean made an appearance as a headline act at The Babbacombe Theatre, in what is the longest running production show in the UK. Christmas though is panto season and for over 25 years Dean has established himself as one of the country’s leading pantomime comics, with his cheeky chappie character he connects with audiences of all ages. Over the years Dean has played every pantomime comic role there is, some many times over, including Buttons, Smee, Muddles and Wishee Washee to name but a few. As well as performing in static pantomimes, Dean previously owned, wrote and produced his own pantos for one of the UK’s leading touring pantomime companies. Dean also co-wrote “The Curtain Falls”, a black comedy with writing partner Steve Laister, as well as a brand-new television sitcom. Dean wishes everyone a fantastic Christmas in Weymouth and he can’t wait to make audiences ‘laugh their socks off’ throughout the festive period in Jack and the Beanstalk.
Andrew Goddard - Fleshcreep
Andrew has a been playing Panto villains for over 12 years and is very pleased to be doing so for the first time in Weymouth this year. His recent film and TV credits include Ghostbuster Frozen Empire, the up coming Netflix Christmas film Jingle Bell Heist, Riches for ITV, COBRA: CYBERWAR on Sky MAX, in season 2 of DAS BOOT as Officer Downey on Sky Atlantic. A regular face in many national TV commercials as well a prolific voice over career voicing commercials, corporate films, and videogames. Mums and dads may know Andrew as the voice of many characters for vTech and Leapfrog Toys. A prolific classical theatre actor his theatre career has taken him all the world in productions of, Much Ado about Nothing, Merchant of Venice, As you like it, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night and many more.
Ellena Bacon - Jill
Ellena trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London and graduated in 2020 with a Trinity Diploma in professional musical theatre. Prior to this Ellen attended Evolution Foundation College, Colchester. Credits include: Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz (UK Tour) and (The Shaw Theatre, London), Fairy Fortywinks in Sleeping Beauty (Weymouth Pavillion) and (Dorking Halls), Belle in Beauty and The Beast (UK Tour), Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, (Dorking Halls),Rapunzel in Rapunzel (UK Tour), Fairy Fortywinks in Sleeping Beauty (Weymouth Pavillion) and (Dorking Halls), Linda Manero in Saturday Night Fever (Italia Conti Academy), Sarah Kine in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Italia Conti Academy) Ellena is thrilled to be returning to Weymouth this Christmas alongside such a wonderful cast. She hopes you all enjoy the show!
Katie Janes - The Good
Katie Janes - The Good Fairy
Katie graduated in 2023 from Dancebox Studios & Theatre Works, where she completed a full BA honours degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. At the end of 2023,Katie made her professional debut working with Enchanted Entertainment as the Forest Fairy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Last year Katie spent seven months in Greece performing as a Professional Showgirl in Dance Fantasia, working under Med Ents Ltd.as well as returning to Weymouth Pavilion for the Christmas production of Peter Pan. Katie is very excited to be returning to her hometown once again this season to work with a wonderful cast in one of her favourite pantomimes! She can’t wait to help Jack save the day and defeat the Giant with a wave of her magic wand playing the Good Fairy in Jack and the Beanstalk.
