Former EastEnders bad boy Michael Greco is to play a baddie in panto in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas.

Michael, who played Albert Square's Beppe di Marco, will play the evil Abanazar in the Assembly Hall Theatre's pantomime, Aladdin.

Since leaving EastEnders, he has featured in ITV's Celebrity Love Island, the BBC’s Love Hurts and has starred alongside Kevin Costner in the TV series Hatfields & McCoys.

He recently joined the cast of the BBC’s Casualty as policeman Phil Paterson.

A graduate of the Guildford School of Acting, he has worked extensively in theatre including leads in Chicago, Much Ado About Nothing and Kiss Me Kate.

The show is produced by UK Productions, the company responsible for last year's show, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which starred Su Pollard from Hi-de-Hi.

Michael said: "I love entertaining people, especially at Christmas time, and being the pantomime villain - can't wait to get booed and hissed at!"

Aladdin will run at the Assembly Hall Theatre from Friday, December 8 to Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Tickets cost from £10. Call 01892 530613/532072 or visit assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.