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This Christmas, the former Labour leader will be in the spotlight as he performs a Wizard of Oz parody in a north London theater.

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Former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn is swapping the Commons for the stage this Christmas, joining the cast of a festive pantomime in his home borough of Islington.

The Independent MP for Islington North will appear in Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto, a drag-inspired Wizard of Oz parody taking place at The Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road. The production will run across the Christmas period as part of the venue’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

For more than 40 years, Jeremy Corbyn has been a well-known figure in the Islington North community. The already flamboyant show, which combines traditional panto humor with a colorful, cabaret-style twist, will be entertained by theater organisers who claim his appearance will add local fun.

The show incorporates drag comedy, pop parodies, and audience interaction in a take on the beloved Wicked and the classic Wizard of Oz story. The panto transports viewers to a rebranded Yellow Brick Road with soaring vocals, bold costumes, and plenty of sass.

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(Image: thepleasance/Instagram)

READ MORE: ‘Starmer’s poll tax’: Piers Corbyn rallies against digital ID outside Labour conferenceREAD MORE: ‘I quit my job to chase my dreams – now I DJ with celebrities for a living’

Jeremy’s portrayal of the fictional Emerald City and his long-standing connection to the borough will be reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz-lington. The MP claimed that he is proud to support local theater and believes pantomime is crucial to bringing people together over the holidays.

Local theater like The Pleasance (Theatre) deserves our support because it has been at the center of our community for 30 years. Jeremy remarked. In their 30th year, the Pleasance is a pleasure to bring up a little festive magic. The real magic happens in the local theater, which awakens imagination and brings some joy to life.

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He will appear alongside Ro Supp as Dorothy, affectionately known as Dor, and drag artist Gigi Zahir as the wicked witch Adelphaba, Eleanor Burke as the good witch Kelly Oz-Born, and Lew Ray as Tin 2.0.

To accommodate various audience groups, The Pleasance Theatre will present two different adaptations of the play. The first will be family-friendly and open to people of all ages, while the second will feature more adult humor and run on specific dates throughout the season.

The Pleasance London’s first major festive production in more than 20 years is the centerpiece of a larger celebration of its three decades in Islington. The presence of a prominent Islington figure in the venue highlights the close relationship between the theater and the area it serves.

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Throughout his political career, Jeremy has faced heated debate and scrutiny on national stage. Although he has previously expressed his support for local arts and grassroots creative spaces, his transition to pantomime is a rare step in that direction.

Ellie Simpson, the head of theatre at Pleasance London, said: “Jeremy’s as much a part of Islington as the Yellow Brick Road is of Oz-lington. Who better to play the Wizard of Oz-lington?” His cameo raises the profile of our 30th anniversary celebrations and adds a little local sparkle to our wickedly funny festive panto, which is Pleasance’s first in over 20 years.

Performances of Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto will run at The Pleasance Theatre between 18 November and 31 December. Ticket details are available via the theatre’s website.

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The former Labour leader is stepping into the spotlight this Christmas as he appears in a drag-inspired Wizard of Oz parody at a north London theatre.

View 4 Images

Former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn is swapping the Commons for the stage this Christmas, joining the cast of a festive pantomime in his home borough of Islington.

The Independent MP for Islington North will appear in Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto, a drag-inspired Wizard of Oz parody taking place at The Pleasance Theatre near Caledonian Road. The production will run across the Christmas period as part of the venue’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

Jeremy Corbyn has represented Islington North for more than 40 years and remains a well-recognised figure in the community. Theatre organisers say his appearance will add local fun to the already flamboyant show, which blends traditional panto humour with a colourful, cabaret-style twist.

The show is inspired by the hit musical Wicked and the classic Wizard of Oz story, reimagined with drag comedy, pop parodies and audience interaction. Producers promise soaring vocals, bold costumes and plenty of sass as the panto takes audiences down a rebranded Yellow Brick Road.

View 4 Images

(Image: thepleasance/Instagram)

READ MORE: ‘Starmer’s poll tax’: Piers Corbyn rallies against digital ID outside Labour conferenceREAD MORE: ‘I quit my job to chase my dreams – now I DJ with celebrities for a living’

Jeremy will play the Wizard of Oz-lington, a nod not only to the fictional Emerald City but also to his long association with the borough. The MP said he is proud to support local theatre and believes pantomime plays an important role in bringing communities together during the holidays.

“The Pleasance (Theatre) has been at the heart of our community for 30 years, and local theatre like this deserves our support.” Jeremy said. “It’s a pleasure to conjure up a little festive magic with the Pleasance in their 30th year. Local theatre is where the real wizardry happens – sparking imagination and spreading a bit of joy.”

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He will appear alongside drag performer Gigi Zahir as the wicked witch Adelphaba, Eleanor Burke as the good witch Kelly Oz-Born, Lew Ray as Tin 2.0, and Ro Supp as Dorothy, affectionately referred to as Dor.

The Pleasance Theatre will stage two separate versions of the panto to cater to different audiences. One will be family-friendly and open to all ages, while the other will feature more adult humour and run on specific nights across the season.

The show marks the first large-scale festive production at The Pleasance London in more than two decades and forms part of a wider programme celebrating its three decades in Islington. For the venue, the involvement of a high-profile Islington figure highlights the strong relationship between the theatre and the neighbourhood it serves.

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Jeremy has spent much of his political career on national stages facing heated debate and public scrutiny. His move into pantomime marks a rare shift toward light-hearted entertainment, although he has previously expressed enthusiasm for local arts and grassroots creative spaces.

Head of theatre at Pleasance London, Ellie Simpson, said: “Jeremy’s as much a part of Islington as the Yellow Brick Road is of Oz – so who better to play the Wizard of Oz-lington? His cameo adds a touch of local sparkle to our wickedly funny festive panto, which marks Pleasance’s first in over 20 years and raises the curtain on our 30th anniversary celebrations.”

Performances of Wicked Witches: A Popular Panto will run at The Pleasance Theatre between 18 November and 31 December. Ticket details are available via the theatre’s website.

Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!

Although Fawlty Towers only aired two series in 1975 and 1979, it was able to capture the fame of many A-list actors.

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Fawlty Towers is a household name for British television classics. Although the well-known comedy only aired two seasons in 1975 and 1979, it continues to be a hit with residents all over the country.

The couple’s chaotic efforts to keep their hotel and marriage afloat led to the production of the sitcom. John Cleese and Connie Booth co-wrote the 12 episodes.

Although the show’s first season has lasted for decades, several of the original cast members have had very successful careers as well. What the renowned characters did after Fawlty Towers was over, let’s take a look at what they did.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman channels Wednesday Addams in collared dress for under £100

7 Images to View

READ MORE: Prunella Scales’ health woes as she ‘didn’t understand husband Timothy West’s death’READ MORE: Prunella Scales’ heartbreaking marriage regret before final goodbye to Timothy West

Sybil Fawlty – Prunella Scales

When the series ended, Prunella Scales made a number of successful movies. In The Boys from Brazil and Howard’s End, she appeared.

She also appeared in The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Escape from the Dark. The actress won a Bafta for her role in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution.

In 2014, Scales was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and as the condition worse, she made the decision to stop watching TV. Prunella passed away on October 28, 2025, according to an announcement made on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Our beloved mother, Prunella Scales, passed away peacefully at home in London yesterday, according to her family. She was 93. She continued to reside at home despite her retirement from a remarkable acting career that spanned nearly 70 years. The day before she passed away, she was watching Fawlty Towers.

Pru and Timothy West were “married for 61 years.” In November of this year, 2024, he passed away. Seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren are also left behind by her.

“We would like to thank everyone who assisted Pru in ensuring that she spent her final days peacefully, lovingly, and surrounded by love.”

7 Images to View

Basil Fawlty and John Cleese

Basil Fawlty, a hotel owner, was portrayed by John Cleese, a character known for his rants, rude behavior, and desire to advance socially. Cleese won the 1980 BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance for the role.

Before the second series aired, John and Connie Booth, who played Polly, split up. Before marrying his wife Jennifer, the actor and comedian then wed two more times.

When the series finished John made more Monty Python films and starred in Bond films as Q’s assistant and Q, as well as A Fish Called Wanda and Clockwise. Other projects included the Harry Potter franchise, Shrek, Will and Grace and BBC sitcom Hold The Sunset.

When Fawlty Towers’ controversial language is being questioned, he revived Basil for a 2016 Specsavers commercial.

7 Images to View

Manuel Andrew Sachs

Andrew Sachs played Spanish waiter Manuel while he was on Fawlty Towers. The actor went on to be the hotel manager in Are You being Served? and appeared soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street.

Alongside voice over and radio work, Sachs also appeared in Doctor Who: Shada and That Peter Kay Thing. Back in 2008, Sachs was the victim of a prank call, were Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left inappropriate messages about Brand having sex with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

The BBC apologised, Brand resigned, and Ross was suspended as a result of this enormous scandal. The father-of-three was sadly passed away four years after being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012.

7 Images to View

Terry Hughes – Brian Hall

Terry Hughes, a cockney chef, is a character Brian Hall plays in Fawlty Towers, which he just portrayed in the second season of Fawlty Towers. Hall left Fawlty Towers to work on films like Break in the Sun, Sweeney 2 and McVicar.

The actor died in September 1997 at the age of 59, after a three-year long battle with cancer. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he told The Mirror: “Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I’ve met – nothing.”

Major Gowen at Ballard Berkeley

Ballard Berkeley, an actor, and Major Gowen, a permanent resident, played the role. Major Gowen was well-known for his controversial viewpoints, and many of the character’s offensive lines were repeatedly edited out.

Berkeley appeared on well-known TV programs like Hi-de-Hi! and “To the Manor Born” Are You Being Served also features him in a small capacity.

His most recent role was in the animated film The BFG, which he voiced. Unfortunately, the actor passed away in 1988 and could not see the finished product on screen.

7 Images to View

7 Images to View

Polly Sherman – Connie Booth

Connie Booth and her then-husband Cleese co-wrote and co-starred in Fawlty Towers. She played the role of Polly Sherman, a waiter and maid.

She and Cleese were able to reconcile while filming the show’s daughter Cynthia. The actress later appeared in television series The Tomorrow People and The Buccaneers, as well as The Sherlock Holmes Return. Booth left acting in 1995, and he later pursued studies to pursue a career in psychotherapy.

Mr. Hutchinson – Bernard Cribbins

Although Bernard Cribbins OBE played Mr. Hutchinson, a salesman for hotels, in the episode, Basil quickly realized he was a hotel inspector.

The actor had a career spanning more than 70 years and had a number of big roles, including those in three Carry On movies and those in Doctor Who alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

He married Gillian in 1955, and it was revealed that the 93-year-old veteran actor had passed away in July 2022.

Although Fawlty Towers only aired two series in 1975 and 1979, it was able to capture the fame of many A-list actors.

7 Images to View

Fawlty Towers is a household name for British television classics. Although the well-known comedy only aired two seasons in 1975 and 1979, it continues to be a hit with residents all over the country.

The couple’s chaotic efforts to keep their hotel and marriage afloat led to the production of the sitcom. John Cleese and Connie Booth co-wrote the 12 episodes.

Although the show’s first season has lasted for decades, several of the original cast members have had very successful careers as well. What the renowned characters did after Fawlty Towers was over, let’s take a look at what they did.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman channels Wednesday Addams in collared dress for under £100

7 Images to View

READ MORE: Prunella Scales’ health woes as she ‘didn’t understand husband Timothy West’s death’READ MORE: Prunella Scales’ heartbreaking marriage regret before final goodbye to Timothy West

Sybil Fawlty – Prunella Scales

When the series ended, Prunella Scales made a number of successful movies. In The Boys from Brazil and Howard’s End, she appeared.

She also appeared in The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Escape from the Dark. The actress won a Bafta for her role in Alan Bennett’s A Question of Attribution.

In 2014, Scales was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and as the condition worse, she made the decision to stop watching TV. Prunella passed away on October 28, 2025, according to an announcement made on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Our beloved mother, Prunella Scales, passed away peacefully at home in London yesterday, according to her family. She was 93. She continued to reside at home despite her retirement from a remarkable acting career that spanned nearly 70 years. The day before she passed away, she was watching Fawlty Towers.

Pru and Timothy West were “married for 61 years.” In November of this year, 2024, he passed away. Seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren are also left behind by her.

“We would like to thank everyone who assisted Pru in ensuring that she spent her final days peacefully, lovingly, and surrounded by love.”

7 Images to View

Basil Fawlty and John Cleese

Basil Fawlty, a hotel owner, was portrayed by John Cleese, a character known for his rants, rude behavior, and desire to advance socially. Cleese won the 1980 BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance for the role.

Before the second series aired, John and Connie Booth, who played Polly, split up. Before marrying his wife Jennifer, the actor and comedian then wed two more times.

When the series finished John made more Monty Python films and starred in Bond films as Q’s assistant and Q, as well as A Fish Called Wanda and Clockwise. Other projects included the Harry Potter franchise, Shrek, Will and Grace and BBC sitcom Hold The Sunset.

When Fawlty Towers’ controversial language is being questioned, he revived Basil for a 2016 Specsavers commercial.

7 Images to View

Manuel Andrew Sachs

Andrew Sachs played Spanish waiter Manuel while he was on Fawlty Towers. The actor went on to be the hotel manager in Are You being Served? and appeared soaps EastEnders and Coronation Street.

Alongside voice over and radio work, Sachs also appeared in Doctor Who: Shada and That Peter Kay Thing. Back in 2008, Sachs was the victim of a prank call, were Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left inappropriate messages about Brand having sex with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

The BBC apologised, Brand resigned, and Ross was suspended as a result of this enormous scandal. The father-of-three was sadly passed away four years after being diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012.

7 Images to View

Terry Hughes – Brian Hall

Terry Hughes, a cockney chef, is a character Brian Hall plays in Fawlty Towers, which he just portrayed in the second season of Fawlty Towers. Hall left Fawlty Towers to work on films like Break in the Sun, Sweeney 2 and McVicar.

The actor died in September 1997 at the age of 59, after a three-year long battle with cancer. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he told The Mirror: “Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I’ve met – nothing.”

Major Gowen at Ballard Berkeley

Ballard Berkeley, an actor, and Major Gowen, a permanent resident, played the role. Major Gowen was well-known for his controversial viewpoints, and many of the character’s offensive lines were repeatedly edited out.

Berkeley appeared on well-known TV programs like Hi-de-Hi! and “To the Manor Born” Are You Being Served also features him in a small capacity.

His most recent role was in the animated film The BFG, which he voiced. Unfortunately, the actor passed away in 1988 and could not see the finished product on screen.

7 Images to View

7 Images to View

Polly Sherman – Connie Booth

Connie Booth and her then-husband Cleese co-wrote and co-starred in Fawlty Towers. She played the role of Polly Sherman, a waiter and maid.

She and Cleese were able to reconcile while filming the show’s daughter Cynthia. The actress later appeared in television series The Tomorrow People and The Buccaneers, as well as The Sherlock Holmes Return. Booth left acting in 1995, and he later pursued studies to pursue a career in psychotherapy.

Mr. Hutchinson – Bernard Cribbins

Although Bernard Cribbins OBE played Mr. Hutchinson, a salesman for hotels, in the episode, Basil quickly realized he was a hotel inspector.

The actor had a career spanning more than 70 years and had a number of big roles, including those in three Carry On movies and those in Doctor Who alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

He married Gillian in 1955, and it was revealed that the 93-year-old veteran actor had passed away in July 2022.

Prior to Timothy West’s own death in November 2024, Pulpella Scales, 93, was interviewed to gain an understanding of their relationship.

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Prunella Scales, a legend of the Sleepy Towers, recently passed away at the age of 93 and spoke poignantly about her devotion to Timothy West, who passed away in November 2024.

The celebrated actress described herself as “a very lucky lady” and said, “I’m married to a very interesting person, I love him very much, and I’m interested in him.” Therefore, there is no issue.

I would be a different person if I married to someone I didn’t get along with and had an unhappy marriage. ””

Prior to being forced to resign from television, Prunella co-starred with her beloved husband in Channel 4’s Great Canal Journeys across 10 seasons.

She was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, but she refused to let her illness prevent her from pursuing her passion and launched a hugely successful TV series with her husband in 2013.

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Timothy spoke to the BBC in 2023 following their diamond wedding anniversary celebrations, explaining that her progressing dementia had simply become woven into their daily existence: “Somehow we have coped with it and Pru doesn’t really think about it.”

Prunella acknowledged that pre-performance jitters never returned despite her illustrious and extensive career: “You go to a different place and you think, Oh God, these people won’t like me. You must deal with that every time, they say. “

In John Cleese’s illustrious sitcom Fawlty Towers, Pranella Scales, who had a long and varied acting career, will always be remembered for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty, the wife of the hilariously intolerable Basil.

The show was praised as one of the best sitcoms ever produced despite only having two series to air in 1975 and 1979.

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In a Children In Need sketch in 2007, she reprised her role as Sybil, portraying her as a potential replacement hotel manager.

Sybil and Basil’s on-screen relationship frequently came off as deeply unhappy, in stark contrast to Prunella’s real-life union. She and her husband raised three children together, enjoying over 60 years of marriage bliss.

Their son, Samuel West, followed in his parents’ footsteps into the world of acting, earning multiple BAFTA nominations and landing the role of Siegfried Farnon in Channel 5’s enduring drama series, All Creatures Great and Small.

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In an interview with The Times, Samuel revealed how sensitively the family is to Prunella’s declining health, saying, “I frequently ask her how old she thinks I am. And she typically places me at about 27 — only 30 years out. “

He continued, “We saw them on Sunday, and I asked, “How old do you think I am?” and she responded, “How old am I? ” ‘ and I said, ‘You’re 91, mum. ‘ And she said, ’91? F***! ‘”.

Sam Thompson was criticized by Pete Wicks over a snub he received during a double-date incident, but the former Made in Chelsea star came out in his own defense.

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Pete Wicks has jokingly hit out at close pal Sam Thompson over a double date snub that made him feel “sad, lonely and depressed”. Pete’s comments came to light in an episode of the Staying Relevant podcast (October 27), in which he revealed that his friend and co-host, Sam, half-heartedly invited him to a double date over the weekend.

Pete apparently planned to attend the Sunday roast by occupying what he perceived as a potentially awkward position, so he “declined” the invitation, arguing that it would be too “lovey-dovey.”

Pete, best known for his roles on Strictly Come Dancing and The Only Way Is Essex, also claimed that it was “sort of an invite that was thrown out there”. An amused Sam, who’s reportedly dating model Talitha Balinska, quickly jumped to his own defence.

According to Pete, “It was sort of an invite that was thrown out there because he said he would see me and then decided to make it a double date.” Then I asked, “Am I still seeing you later?” ‘. Pete claims that his pal had informed him that he was “more than welcome” after Sam explained who was coming.

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He continued. “Now, what that says to me is, ‘Come if you want, but it will be weird, and we don’t want you there. We don’t want you there, alright, because we’re going to be lovey-dovey feeding each other at the table and all the rest of it, and it might be weird for you to sit there.

It might be too much for you because you know, “I know, I know, you’re sad, lonely, and depressed.” “

As he spoke, Sam could be overheard laughing and saying Pete was “wrong” and that his claims were “not true”. Once Pete had finished making his point, Sam insisted the Strictly star was “always invited” and was, in fact, one of the “first invited” to the Sunday roast.

He also explained that the other people who were due to attend had “dropped out”, reducing the setup to a double date . Pete added that part of him wishes that he’d simply “gone and just sat there”.

Sam responded that he would have “loved that,” but Pete thinks that wouldn’t have been the case because it would have compromised the occasion’s romance.

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It follows reports that Pete had what was described by one fan as an “aggressive” kiss with his former Strictly dance partner, Jowita Przystal, during a live version of their podcast at London’s O2 Arena.

The Strictly final’s audition for Pete and Jowita on September 19 ended in their favor, and the pair exchanged three kisses throughout the entire performance.

The latter claimed it was just choreography and that it wasn’t an “aggressive” kiss, while the other referred to the situation as “put that out there right now.”