Christmas may be very far from readers’ minds, but former EastEnders star Gary Lucy already has that festive feel as he prepares to is set to cut his panto teeth in Maidstone.

The 32-year-old, who exited the BBC prime time soap in February, will appear in the Hazlitt Theatre’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

He became a household name playing Luke Morgan in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and he has appeared in a string of high-profile TV programmes shows since, including The Bill, Footballers’ Wives and Dancing on Ice.

He joined EastEnders in 2012, playing Danny Pennant, until earlier this year.

The Medway-based Blue Genie Productions extravaganza will be putting on the family show for another year, and it will run from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, January 4 2015.

Producer Gary Telfer said: “Gary is delighted to be making his pantomime debut at the Hazlitt Theatre and is looking forward to slapstick, laughter and meeting everyone for some family fun and fabulous entertainment.”

For details visit www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk.