THE Gazette can exclusively reveal that actor Mark Little, who made his name as Joe Mangel in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours, will play Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk at The Anvil this Christmas.

When Dame Trott sends her son Jack to market, little do they know that swapping Daisy the cow for a handful of beans will result in an overgrown beanstalk, a hungry giant, wicked henchman and golden treasure.

With thrilling adventures, laughs, spectacular sets and costumes, this panto will be a treat.

In addition to theatre and TV work, Little has been in 16 films and recently finished the Lance Armstrong biopic Icon, directed by Stephen Frears.

He has presented shows on British TV including The Big Breakfast and Wish You Were Here and is a regular panellist on The Wright Stuff.

His West End theatre debut came in 1999 with the one-man play, Defending the Caveman at the Apollo, for which he won an Olivier award. He toured the show internationally for 10 years.

He will be joined in Jack and the Beanstalk by Mark Rhodes as Jack. Rhodes is best known as half of the presenting duo Sam and Mark. They have come a long way since Pop Idol in 2003, when they came second and third respectively.

Since 2011 they have hosted Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind Up for CBBC. The boys scooped their first Children’s BAFTA in the presenter category.

They have also had a radio show which broadcasts live every Sunday on Free Radio in the West Midlands.

Also coming to Basingstoke for Jack and the Beanstalk are former Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters (forest fairy), Chris Pizzey (Simple Simon) and Philip Meeks (Dame Trott).

See the show at The Anvil from December 10 to January 3. A relaxed performance will be on Wednesday, December 23 at 2pm.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01256 844244 or online at anvilarts.org.uk.