Cast Announcement: The Little Mermaid - Easter Pantomime
Jamie 'JJ' Hamblett
Jamie ‘JJ’ Hamblett was born in Newmarket Suffolk. He was a jockey until the age of 21, 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 1 Radio Teen Award under their belt, Union J are one of 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 28th 2022 Union J returned with a one off show at the London Palladium and supported Christina Aguilera on her Uk tour.
Jamie Riding
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:
‘Dame Trott’ in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ (Enchanted Entertainment), ‘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.
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 heading on the road again this Easter and he hopes you have a fin-tastic time under the sea!
He would also like to thank his friends and family for their continued support.
Abbie Budden
Previous credits include: Sleeping Beauty (Wyvern Theatre/Imagine); Between the Sheets (Crazy Coqs); Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions (UK Tour & The Other Palace); Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk (Ipswich Regent Theatre); Heidi in [Title of Show] (Southwark Playhouse and Phoenix Arts Club); Company Member in Sunday Night at the Palladium with Bill Kenwright (The London Palladium)
For the past 6 years Abbie has built up an established following of 1.5 million online, making original comedy shorts, theatre and impression videos, working with brands such as Netflix, Disney, BBC, Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate.
TikTok @abbiebudden
Insta @abbie.budden
Ben Langley
Ben Langley is one of this country’s hardest working variety acts performing solidly at Haven resorts, Disney Cruise Ships, the corporate scene and is a fly-out act for Tui Holiday Villages and Tui Sensatori across Europe. He was the support act for Joe Pasquale and AGT winner Paul Zerdin and appeared in BBC4’s Detectorists, BBC1 Worzel Gummidge, ITV YouBet and CBeebies Treasure Champs. He wrote and performed in the “Ha Ha…!” shows which toured the UK extensively and starred Joe Pasquale, Cannon & Ball and Su Pollard.
He is known mainly for his appearance on BGT when he wow’d the judges with his misheard Lyric routine which has since gained 30m hits on YouTube. Ben has played the comic in 20 pantomimes and for the last 7 years he’s played comic in The Hippodrome Circus Christmas Spectacular in Great Yarmouth. Ben loves living in Norfolk with wife, Sarah and boys, Elwood and Loxley and regularly writes sketches and material for other comedians and shows. Follow @TheBenLangleyShow on TikTok.
Lewis Denny
Lewis is thrilled to be back this Easter, starring as Octavia, the Sea Witch in ‘The Little Mermaid’.
Lewis has been performing all over the globe with his solo show and with the four part harmony group ‘Troubadour’ working with Fred Olsen. Cruise Lines, Cunard, P&O, TUI, Warner Leisure Hotels, Haven and Away Resorts to name a few. Lewis can be seen performing as his comedic alter-ego ‘Northumberland’s Favourite Mam’, Karen The Mam across social media platforms and has successfully produced and performed sell out shows as the character. In 2025, Lewis starred as ‘The Cowardly Lion’ in the UK tour of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Most recently, Lewis starred in a commercial for The Works bookstore as Peter Kay and also launched his new show, “Geordie Boy”, paying tribute to Frankie Valli and the Jersey Boys.
Training – SA Performing Arts Centre
lewisdenny.com
Instagram: Lewis_Denny
X: Lewis_Denny
TikTok: Lewis_Denny / KarenTheMam
Lewis hopes you enjoy the show and thanks everyone for their continued support!