IF you love panto, there's a good chance you'll be off to see a fresh twist on a classic tale coming to Glasgow. Why? Because, because, because... 

The Wizard of Oz is heading to the city's Scottish Exhibition Centre (SEC) for two nights in December and will star The One Show's Matt Baker and The Chase's Jenny 'The Vixen' Ryan. 

And guests are sure to be left spellbound as the show earns itself the title of The World's Biggest Panto. It will be performed on the world’s biggest pantomime stage – the equivalent of four London Palladiums – plus two mobile stages that will travel around the arena as the Yellow Brick Road unfolds before a 6,000 capacity audience.

Glasgow Times:

Matt, who will star as the Wizard, said: “I'll be an acrobatic, laser wielding wizard and I might even bring the Children in Need Rickshaw along for the ride.

"It's a show packed with spectacular entertainment and fun with a brilliant script and cast to boot. I can't wait for my festive tour on the yellow brick road.”

The Wizard of Oz will also feature Kelly Balaki as Dorothy, Joe Speare as Lion and TV actor Charlie Quirke in the role of Tinman.

Jenny, who is also known for her fabulous voice after wowing audiences on ITVs The X Factor: Celebrity, added: “The spectacular size of the show is breathtaking. There are giant video screens with animated computer graphic backgrounds and an ice-covered Emerald city skating scene that is magical.

 

“With a 10-metre tall roof there is plenty of flying with cirque stars as the crows, and the witch actually flies on a broomstick around the arena. What’s also fun is that I am known as one of telly’s top TV quizzers, yet I have to contend with a man with no brains at all.”

Tickets for the December 27 and 28 shows go on sale at 8am Friday from www.wizardofozuk.com