AS the festive season creeps ever closer the star of the first pantomime at Northwich’s new Memorial Court tells the Guardian how she feels in the run up to opening.

Former MP Edwina Currie, also a novelist, broadcaster and TV reality star, is preparing to play the Wicked Queen in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’.

Performances will be from December 2 to January 2.

Here’s her take on her first panto performance.

I’m a lucky girl; I’m the first to admit it. Great opportunities have come my way, I’ve grabbed them with both hands and given them some welly.

For 40 years I’ve earned my living doing exactly what I wanted to do, whether for Parliament, writing books or on TV, delighted to find that someone would pay me to do it.

You have to say “Yes” to these chances. The moment you start to refuse, the offers dry up; and as you get older, you begin on that long downhill path. I’m not ready for that yet.

But whether I’m ready to play the Wicked Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in panto is another question.

Oh yes, you did read that right. Oh, yes you did! In the wonderful new £15million Northwich Memorial Theatre. This will be the inaugural panto. Twice daily from December 2, finishing January 2.

The family thinks this is hilarious. It makes a change from the jungle, anyway. Granddaughter Zoe aged nine is thrilled; she sees me as a magic-wand-waver, anyway. Grandsons are threatening to come across from France for it – though what they’ll make of a classic British panto, heaven knows.

The contract signed, I’m now terrified. Will I be able to learn my lines? If not, will it matter, or can I make it up as we go along?

How will my back/knee/ankle cope? Will I have to dance (I’m terrible, you all know that, you watched Strictly Come Dancing)? Anton Benson the producer wants to know if I can sing. Not for me to judge, perhaps. If he wants Defying Gravity from Wicked, Lord help us: I may regret taking this on. As may the audience.

It’s not the first time I’ve played a Queen on stage. That was aged 10, when I was the White Queen in a school production of “Through the Looking Glass” in Liverpool.

Alice was schoolmate Liz Sladen, who went on to a notable career as a TV actress.

On the last night, she was a little over-confident, ate three ice creams at the interval, and was promptly sick on stage.

I hope I don’t do that.

It’ll be great to do a traditional panto, perfect for kids (and everyone else). Some schools performances are sold out, but you can get tickets for the rest: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/northwichpanto. Let’s hope it’ll be a transport of delight, wholesome entertainment, for your ineluctable enjoyment!

Or maybe, just wish me luck.