SOAP star royalty made a visit to Birmingham recently as Britain's favourite soap baddie, Steve McFadden, visited the Hippodrome in the countdown to their winter pantomime.

Best known for playing 'hard man' Phil Mitchell in BBC soap opera Eastenders, Steve McFadden will swap the streets of Albert Square for the sewers of London this Christmas in the role of the villainous King Rat in Dick Whittington, running at Birmingham Hippodrome between December 19, and January 29, 2017.

No stranger to pantomimes, Steve's previous festive roles include Captain Hook in Peter Pan and Abanazar in Aladdin.

He said: "I am really excited to be appearing in panto in Birmingham this Christmas.

"As an actor and father of five, I am a big fan of panto and have travelled all over the UK to watch my friends on stage and I can confidently say that Birmingham is home to one of the best pantomimes in the country.

"I have been to see Matt Slack in panto here for the last three years and I always feel such a strong connection with Birmingham audiences.

"You can tell they are up for a great night out from the minute they arrive and that is exactly what they get. I can't wait to get started."

Joining Steve on stage this Christmas will be Torchwood and musical theatre star John Barrowman as Dick Whittington and Matt Slack who returns for the fourth consecutive year in the role of Idle Jack.

Tickets are priced from £15.50 and can be booked by calling 0844 3385000 or from birminghamhippodrome.com.