OH YES WE DO! Soap’s panto rich list – from EastEnders star paid six figures to Corrie villain cashing in on fame
A star-studded cast list of some of the biggest names in soap land will be laughing all the way to the bank this Christmas with monster panto pay cheques … oh, yes, they will.
For many of the big-name actors, their soap careers might be behind them, but theatre bosses clamour for them to star in their glitzy Christmas shows.
This festive period, nine stars from EastEnders, ten Coronation Street favourites , and four Emmerdale stars, will tread the boards in pantos up and down the land.
Albert Square baddie Steve McFadden and former Coronation Street smoothie Nigel Havers will be the biggest earners, with both stars picking up £100,000 paydays for just a few weeks’ acting work over Christmas.
Other stars earn anything from £95,000 to £45,000 for their roles in the nation’s favourite theatre shows.
The performances are the lifeblood of regional theatres, with the annual pantomime generating up to 50 per cent of their yearly income in a little over a month.
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The London Palladium is charging a whopping £275 for a front row seat for its performance of Sleeping Beauty.
Here’s our soap cast of stars appearing in panto this year…
STEVE MCFADDEN – EASTENDERS
Phil Mitchell star Steve McFadden plays the villain Abanazar in Aladdin at the Alban Arena in St Albans, running from December 5 to December 31, 2025.
He said of the role: “You never really want to scare anybody, it’s tongue in cheek, it’s a motif of a baddie, not like a really evil or horrible person.
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“You know, I like to do some comedy as well. If I get any comedy in the script I grab it with both hands and make the most of it. But whatever they give you, you make it work.”
Steve is being paid a whopping £100k for his role.
NIGEL HARMAN – EX-EASTENDERS
Fellow soap bad boy Nigel Harman – Dennis Rickman – will play villain Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Bucks, and will pick up £80,000, say insiders.
Ticket prices go up to around £60 for some performances.
Nigel said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing the gloriously ghastly Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas in Aylesbury!
“I can’t wait to cause chaos alongside Aylesbury’s favourite, Andy Collins – it’s going to be a giant adventure packed with magic, mischief and festive fun for the whole family. Don’t wait – swap your magic beans for tickets now!”
SHAUN WILLIAMSON – EX-EASTENDERS
Luckless Barry Evans star Shaun Williamson returns to the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth as the villain Abanazar, with Clair Norris (Bernie Taylor) starring in Jack and the Beanstalk at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings, East Sussex.
Shaun will pocket around £75,000 for his stint.
SHANE RICHIE – EASTENDERS
Shane Richie – former Queen Vic boss Alfie Moon – stars in Whittington at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
He revealed: “I can’t wait to get back to Plymouth and catch up with friends I haven’t seen for a couple of years.
“Not only do I love this city but anyone who knows me knows how much I love the Theatre Royal and the audiences as they come out to have a good time which I love…so get ready to have a whole lotta laughs, a dash of festive spirit and a bucket load of mayhem… Dick Whittington is on his way (Oh and that’s me by the way!).”
Shane will get around £95,000 for the festive run.
CHARLIE BROOKS – EX-EASTENDERS
Charlie Brooks plays the giant’s wife, Mrs Blunderbore, in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Bristol Hippodrome.
She starred as Barry’s murderous wife, Janine, and she will bank £60,000.
EMMA BARTON – EASTENDERS
Emma Barton plays the villainous Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at the Princess Theatre, Torquay.
Emma – who starred on Strictly last year – plays Honey Mitchell in the soap and will take home £60,000, which will boost her rumoured £150k a year BBC salary.
SAMANTHA WOMACK AND DANNY HATCHARD – EX-EASTENDERS
Ronnie Mitchell favourite Samantha Womack plays the Wicked Queen in Snow White at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Kent, and Danny Hatchard is Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Norwich Theatre Royal.
He played Lee Carter in the soap.
Samantha will earn around £75,000, and Danny will receive a £45,000 pay day.
NIGEL HAVERS – EX-CORONATION STREET
Nigel Havers – who played Lewis Archer in Corrie – is starring in the pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium for the Christmas 2025 season as Keeper of the Privy.
He says of panto: “It doesn’t feel like Christmas without panto.
“We have become a festive fixture and people turn up every year to see the show as part of their family tradition.”
GEORGIA MAY FOOTE – EX CORONATION STREET
Katy Armstrong actor Georgia May Foote stars in her first pantomime, playing the title role of Cinderella at the Norwich Theatre Royal alongside Danny Hatchard.
She will earn £55,000, say insiders – not bad for a first job in panto.
SUE CLEAVER – EX CORONATION STREET
Eileen Grimshaw star Sue Cleaver is Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast at the Hull New Theatre and tickets for peak shows are around £35. Sue will pick up £80,000.
Audience members are told: “Starring Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver and comedy legend Paul Chuckle alongside panto grande dame Jack Land Noble and local lad Jack Gleadow.
“One of the most romantic pantos of all time, Beauty and the Beast, is a spectacular and enchanting production for all the family.”
MARC BAYLIC – EX CORRIE
Marc Baylis – Corrie killer Rob Donovan – is the villain Hugo Pompidou in Beauty and the Beast at the Blackpool Grand Theatre for a month until 4 January, and he will earn £70,000.
Producers reveal: “Leading the charge in our all-star cast is the electrifying Marc Baylis – forever remembered as Coronation Street’s infamous bad boy. With a magnetic stage presence and a flair for delicious villainy, Baylis takes centre stage as the dastardly Hugo Pompidou, promising drama, danger and irresistible charisma.
CONNOR MCINTYRE – EX CORRIE
Another Weatherfield murderer, Connor McIntyre, plays Captain Hook in The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan at the Forum Theatre in Billingham near Middlesbrough.
The Pat Phelan star says of panto: “It’s a British cultural phenomenon because it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world. Men dressing as women and women dressing as men.
“The slapstick comedy that’s funny for both children and adults – it’s very much part of English heritage.”
The soap baddie will rake in £80,000, panto insiders tell The Sun.
LISA GEORGE – EX CORRIE
Lisa George is the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House in York. She quit her role as Beth Tinker on the soap last year, and will earn £60,000.
The I’m A Celeb star reportedly earned £95k for her jungle appearance this winter – so the drinks are on her at New Year!
HELEN FLANAGAN – EX CORRIE
Rosie Webster star Helen Flanagan will also make her panto debut as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Auditorium, M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Helen will bag a bumper £85,000 – a welcome boost after the actress claimed she was struggling for cash earlier this year.
VICKY ENTWISTLE – EX CORRIE
And Janice Battersby icon Vicky Entwistle plays the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Fleetwood, Lancs, with Tristan Gemmill (Robert Preston) as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal Bath. Her pay cheque will be around £60,000, say panto insiders.
MATTHEW WOLDENDEN – EMMERDALE
Matthew Wolfenden – who played David Metcalfe – is starring as the title role of Dick Whittington on Merseyside.
Bosses at the theatre in St Helens Theatre Royal reveal: “Get ready for an unforgettable festive experience, filled with larger-than-life characters, vibrant costumes, and an exhilarating, West End-inspired 3D underwater adventure!
“The production stars Emmerdale’s Matthew Wolfenden as Dick Whittington, alongside St Helens favourites Lewis Devine as Idle Jack and Timothy Lucas as the villainous King Rat.”
Matt will earn £55,000, insiders say – and while at the lower end of the soap scale, it’s nothing to be sniffed at for just a few weeks work.
TOM LISTER – EMMERDALE
Tom Lister – who played Carl King in Emmerdale – was killed off on the soap’s 40th anniversary and turned down a return (as a ghost) in 2021.
He even worked as a window cleaner a few years ago, saying he’d struggled to find acting work during the pandemic.
But now he’s cashing in with a pay cheque of £45k for the role of Fleshcreep in Malvern Theatre.
SANDRA MARVIN – EMMERDALE
Sandra Marvin – the ITV soap’s Jessie Dingle – will feature as the Spirit of Sherwood in Robin Hood at the Birmingham Hippodrome alongside Gok Wan and panto legend Christopher Biggins.
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She said of her panto debut: “Thrilled to be making my panto debut with this fabulous cast. Cannot wait!! Bring on the festive fun! See you there!!”
Sandra will also earn around £45,000.