AFTER the disappointment of David Essex’s panto debut as Captain Hook last year, you might have expected producers Qdos to play it safe this time around. And in the sense that this is a rollicking, traditional offering of “the greatest panto of them all” (to quote the publicity), they have. But where they’ve taken a huge chance is putting another first-timer in the substantial and pivotal role of Buttons.

With hindsight it doesn’t actually seem that much of a gamble: their choice, one Jimmy Osmond, is an entertainer of such vast experience and unbounded charm that he could have grunted the part while dressed in a bin bag and still won the audience over.

As it is, he’s a panto natural, revelling in the audience participation, twinkling with self-deprecating gags and loving the rapport he strikes up through a whirlwind medley of his old hits, including – yes, it’s here – Long-Haired Lover from Liverpool.

Around him he’s got some great support, too, in the shape of Peter Piper as an engaging, knockabout Baron Hardup, and two sassy ugly sisters, Brian Godfrey and Darren Southworth.

The whole thing looks great, thanks to an uncredited designer, and is spectacularly stolen by Ian Lucken’s Shetland ponies in a delightful transformation scene, complete with snow.

There are minor gripes – my inevitable whinge about the lack of a live band, the fact that the pace flags worryingly in parts – but there’s no denying the fantastic response of the thoroughly mixed audience and the sheer winning enthusiasm of the cast.

Royal & Derngate has already announced Snow White as next year’s seasonal offering. Here’s hoping the upward trend continues.