It is that time of year again, ladies and gentleman. Doesn’t it come around quick?

It’s September, yet here we are talking about Pantomimes. And, this year, we are talking about the star-studded affair of Cinderella that will be taking to the stage in Dartford.

Louie Spence will be pirouetting his way across the Dartford Crossing to play Dandini at the Orchard Theatre in December.

And boo hiss, the evil stepmother will be played by former Eastenders and Coronation Street actress Michelle Collins.

We sat down to talk to the stars about what they think about panto, Dartford and the festive period.

“I love the atmosphere of Christmas,” Michelle said, “People just get nicer. I don’t know if the lights, but people are just generally happier.

“I’m terrible at Christmas shopping, I’ll end up doing it between shows. But it would be crazy going somewhere like Bluewater – I’ll never make it back in time!

“It’s more fun to play a baddie. I’ve done this role before, about six years ago, and it is great fun. I think it’s going to be too much fun working with Louie, I won’t be able to stop laughing. He’s naturally very funny, he’s got a really nice energy.”

“I’ve done Dartford before, 20 odd years ago, when my daughter was one. I did Dick Whittington. Here we are doing it 20 years later, I’m sure things will be very different. I’m looking forward to it.”

The cast will start rehearsing at the end of November they start performing two shows a day through December.

Louie Spence shot to fame through Sky 1 show Cirque De Celebrite before appearing in pineapple Dance Studios in 2010.

Louie, whose cousin lives in Dartford, said panto was a different experience every night.

He told News Shopper: “I’ve been doing panto for eight or nine years now. There’s an element of nerves and adrenaline, and you’re the most nervous on the first show.

“Panto moves so fast that stuff does go wrong but you don’t want the audience to see.”

The former Dancing on Ice judge said he has played Dandini before, but he still gets nervous.

“Every show in panto is an individual one, you can go off script and each show is different. You can make the cast laugh and if the audience is involved they’ll love it – I’m sure there will be moments Michelle will have to tighten her corset!

“This is the panto of panto, the perfect one. It has everything you can want in Christmas show, it’s my favourite and yes I have done a few!

“You get booked in February, and then before you know it you’re here. It makes such a difference when it’s two shows a day and it is hard work, but I love it working with the audience. What I love is that you can go off script and have a laugh with the audience.

“It’s glitz and glamour and larger than life, and that suits me.”

Cinderella will be running at the Orchard Theatre from Saturday, December 9 until Sunday, December 31.

Oh yes it will…..