Gravesend’s newest panto star Ricky Norwood was persuaded to get tread the boards in a traditional Christmas show by his EastEnders co-stars.

Ricky, who plays Fatboy on Albert Square, will star alongside B*Witched twins Keavy and Edele Lynch in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at The Woodville from December 11 to January 3.

The 27-year-old said: “I put it out there that I wanted to be in panto.

“In March I was at work and most of the guys book their pantomimes early. I was speaking to Rita [Simons], who plays Roxy and she said ‘Rick, you need to do it. You’ll have so much fun.’

“Steve McFadden [Phil Mitchell] said it’s always a great craic and Shane Richie is always trying to get me to do Buttons somewhere.”

In fact, panto fan Shane is playing just up the road in Dartford in Dick Whittington at the Orchard Theatre.

Ricky said: “I’m hoping to see him over Christmas. I’m hoping to pop over and I’m hoping to swing him over here to, but you know panto schedules are crazy.”

As well as the chance to do something completely different from the soaps, Ricky’s looking forward to being the baddie, playing the Sheriff of Nottingham.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to being the bad guy and how to play that on stage within all the glitz and glamour of panto. I’m looking forward to all of the boos and hisses. It’s all part of it.”

The role will also mean something else that Ricky never gets the chance to do on EastEnders – singing.

The star joked: “There is a health warning with my singing. Autoglass do say don’t let him because they tend to go out of business where I start singing. My house is all reinforced glass.

“I was in the West End before in a show called Daddy Cool, so I had to do it then. I’ll have to jump back in to the breathing techniques and the rehearsals and as soon as I start doing that I’ll be a lot more comfortable.”

Ricky Norwood stars in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Woods at The Woodville, Gravesend, from December 11 to January 3. Go to Woodville.co.uk