EX-Eastenders star Shaun Williamson took to the stage at the Wyvern Theatre to introduce another special guest to pantomime audiences young and old.

Shaun will be treading the boards this December as Abanazar in Aladdin, accompanied by a giant, bright red 3D genie.

The visual effects production is the first of its kind at the Swindon theatre and will be viewed by hundreds of panto lovers through special 3D glasses.

For Shaun - famous for playing Barry in the TV soap opera, and for playing himself in Ricky Gervais' comedy series Extras - the Christmas production will be his first real taste of Swindon, although he admits he's already a fan of the town.

"I walked through Swindon and I liked it - I saw chairs and tables in the street and realised it was a café. In Chatham, where I'm from, that's an eviction."

After answering questions from the audience at yesterday's event Shaun treated the crowd to a snippet of the Christmas production in a scene which saw him trying to retrieve the magic lamp from a cave.

Young panto fan Phoebe Marshman said she loved the show, but some parts were scary.

"I had to take my glasses off when the spiders came out at me," said the five-year-old.

Friend Amy Lester, four, from Broome Manor, said: "I really want to see it at Christmas. The genie was really good."

Since ending his nine-year stint in Albert Square, Shaun hasn't looked back.

As well as appearing on the stage at the Wyvern he is filming for his new kids TV show Scoop on CBBC.

"I play a rather hapless reporter that never quite gets the story because I'm always beaten to it by a sneaky female reporter," he said.

"Eastenders was great but you do end up getting typecast. Even when I phone home and my kids pick up they always shout Mum it's Barry from EastEnders.' "The truth is that I wasn't killed off in EastEnders because Janine pushed me off a cliff - the scriptwriters told me they were going to do a love scene with me and Pat Butcher so I threw myself off."

Shaun will star alongside Swindon's first ever 3D actor - nicknamed Bob - from December 5 to January 4.

Producer Daryl Back said: "What audiences saw yesterday was a genie at just a fraction of it's real size - the one at Christmas will be much bigger.

"I am thrilled Shaun is coming to the Wyvern because not only can he sing and dance but he can practically do it standing on his head - it's a great pleasure."

To book tickets for Aladdin call the Wyvern ticket office on 01793 524481 or visit www.wyverntheatre.org.uk.