Duncan James is going to the ball at the Liverpool Empire

Duncan James from Blue is making a date for Liverpool this Christmas to star in the Empire pantomime.

The singer, actor and presenter will appear as Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Lime Street theatre.

And he will be joined on stage by musicals star Jodie Prenger - currently on tour playing Shirley Valentine, who will wave a magic wand in her role as the Fairy Godmother.

The role of Cinders is yet to be announced.

Duncan James' previous stage roles include Billy Flynn in Chicago, Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde and Tick in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and he's no stranger to panto, having appeared in both Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin.

He is currently filming Hollyoaks in Liverpool, starring as Ryan Knight.

Meanwhile Jodie Prenger returns to the Empire where she has appeared in musicals including Spamalot! and Calamity Jane and, most recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's Tell Me On a Sunday.

Cinderella runs from December 16 to January 7.

Tickets from the website http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/cinderella/liverpool-empire/