Dick Whittington is going to have a confusing time as he battles two evil Queen Rats in this year's pantomine Dick Whittington at Windsor's Theatre Royal.

Anne Hegerty from television's famous The Chase quiz show was set to play the show's villain until she was whisked away to the jungle for the show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, where her grim ordeal has included having bugs and fish guts thrown at her.

It has delayed her appearance in the panto which she will now join on December 18 for the last three weeks of its run.

Meanwhile Marti Webb - star of legendary shows like Tell Me on a Sunday and Half a Sixpence - will play the wicked Queen Rat until then.

The show also stars Basil Brush, DJ Mike Read and the singer and Carry On star Anita Harris, all popular favourites at Windsor.

Anita will be playing Fairy Bowbells, helping Dick Whittington win out against both the show's Queen Rats.

The Theatre Royal's own home grown dame Steven Blakeley and the riotous Kevin Cruise make up the cast.

This year's show marks 80 years of continuous panto performances at Windsor's Theatre Royal, beginning just before the outbreak of war.

Famous names like Patrick Cargill and Patricia Routledge started their careers here along with Mary Kerridge the actress wife of the theatre's founder John Counsell and their daughter Elizabeth Counsell, who wrote many of the earlier shows with her mother.

Steven Blakeley - now in his 10th year as dame here is keeping up that Windsor tradition - writing the shows himself.