FRESH from winning the tenth series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, Lance Corporal Richard Jones will be making magic in this year’s Swansea Grand Theatre’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty, which opens this December.

After joining the British Army in 2010 and studying at the Royal Military School of Music, Richard entered this year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent where he amazed both judges and audiences with his range of close up magic tricks and illusions, even leaving Simon Cowell lost for words on several occasions.

With over 2.5million people voting, Richard was crowned the winner in May and has gone on to appear on numerous television programmes, was requested to perform as a bandsman in the Trooping the Colour as part of Her Majesty Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday celebrations, and will appear in front of senior members of the Royal Family at this year’s Royal Variety Performance as part of his Britain’s Got Talent prize.

Playing the role of Merlin the Magician, Sleeping Beauty marks Richard’s pantomime debut.

Joining Richard as King Brendan is Coach Trip favourite Brendan Sheerin, who found fame and has won legions of fans thanks to his down-to-earth humour and no-nonsense approach to holiday makers on the hit Channel 4 TV show.

Swansea Grand’s Grand Dame of pantomime Kevin Johns MBE makes his 19th consecutive panto at the venue as Queen Keviana. With his trademark wit, outrageous costumes and perfect comic timing, Kevin will ensure Swansea audiences laugh-out-loud in this year’s spectacular show.

Niki Evans, who rose to fame in the fourth series of ITV’s The X Factor will play The Enchantress. Niki has toured the UK as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, Paulette in Legally Blonde and starred in a number of critically acclaimed pantomimes.

Also back by popular demand, the hilarious funny man and panto favourite Matt Edwards returns to Swansea in the role of Muddles, having last appeared at the Grand Theatre in 2014.

Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet member for Regeneration in the City and County of Swansea stated, “We are thrilled with the line-up for this year’s pantomime and are looking forward to another show stopping pantomime at Swansea Grand Theatre."

Sleeping Beauty runs the Swansea Grand Theatre from Friday 9 December 2016 to Sunday 8 January 2017. Tickets are available from swanseagrand.co.uk or by calling 01792 475715.