Currently, Andy Day is playing Jangles in this year’s pantomime Sleeping Beauty at The Hawth Theatre, alongside a cast including Carrie Hope Fletcher as Carrabosse, Scott Paige as the Good Spirit Moonbeam and Michael J Batchelor as Nurse Nellie, with the pantomime open until 31st December. Having joined CBeebies/CBBC in 2007, Andy has been involved with numerous programmes such as Andy and the Band (performing as part of Andy and the Odd Socks), as well as his own Adventure shows. Next year, Andy is releasing his first fiction book Dino Dad, featuring the Thumb family. Andy chatted to us about his role of Jangles in Sleeping Beauty at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley, his shows on CBeebies/CBBC including Andy and the Band and releasing his first book Dino Dad next year.

Is there anything you are looking forward to most for performing in Sleeping Beauty at The Hawth in Crawley this Christmas?

Working with the lovely Michael Batchelor, who plays Nurse Nellie. I’ve worked with most of the Evolution panto dames, but Michael is a first and I have since found out is a joy to work with.

You are playing the role of Jangles, what can audiences expect from your character?

He’s loud, he is silly and full of energy, and Jangles is really the sidekick to the comic, he helps to set up the gags often for Nurse Nellie and has a few himself. Jangles will always be on the side of the audience and gets them shouting the right things!

How was it meeting the rest of the cast for the first time?

Everyone is lovely and very talented, which is great to be around, everyone knows what they are doing so there is trust between us all.

What is it like interacting with a pantomime audience and seeing families getting involved?

It’s a joy, as panto is so familiar for so many people, they know what to expect and they are up for it!

Having performed in pantomimes many times over the years, what do you enjoy most about these shows?

The fact that there is something for everyone from one to 100 years old, everybody gets something out of it and it gets all of us in the Christmas spirit.

Sleeping Beauty runs at The Hawth until 31st December, why would you recommend booking tickets?

This show, like many of Evolution’s shows, has a brilliant script, a nice mix of very talented performers, it’s fast-paced and there isn’t a chance you won’t enjoy it, especially as we are graced with West End performers – Carrie (Hope Fletcher) and Scott (Paige) – but equally, everyone is brilliant from the principals to the kids!

You star in Andy and the Band for CBBC, what is the show like to film?

A lot of fun, we are a real band so we have known each other for a long time now and we are all friends, so it’s just like working with your mates really!

How is it recording the music with Andy and the Odd Socks and do you have a favourite aspect of performing with them?

It’s an enjoyable process. I will go into the studio with my good friends Rob David and Dan Delor, who write almost all of the songs, and record the music and we just have a blast. It’s a very creative environment.

What is it like filming your own Adventure shows – Andy’s Global / Aquatic / Safari / Prehistoric / Dinosaur / Wild Adventures?

I love this show so much, the team are like my family now and it’s always a challenge working on green screen and I feel very grateful to be still making these programmes.

Having been part of CBeebies since 2007, what are some of your stand-out highlights from working with the channel over the years?

So many, but getting to work with Brian May on Andy and the Band is up there for sure!!! That and working on the Shakespeares as it’s out of my comfort zone.

It’s been announced that you will be releasing your book Dino Dad next year, is there anything you can tell us about this and what was it like to write?

Yes, I’m super excited. I’m very new to writing in this way. It’s a fictional story about the Thumb family (Lionel, Ruby, Little Indie and Belinda Thumb), who have a secret, a magic ammonite shell that transports them to an island full of dinosaurs that have adapted to living like us humans and when they go there, they turn into dinosaurs too.

Where does your love of acting, music and presenting come from and how did you get started in the industry?

I fell into it at about 13 when I attended a drama club called Step by Step in Essex, it inspired me to carry on performing. Lots of us went off to be successful in our own way – Russell Tovey and Sara Pascoe went there, and many others who are still working in the business.

How do you like to spend your free time?

With my family, going surfing (although still not great) and camping.

Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch and music artists to listen to?

My wife and I love The Cat Empire, I like listening to Harry Styles and any Motown and Queen. We love the theatre, recently went to see Annie at the Hippodrome, which was surprisingly good (surprisingly because I’m not a huge fan of the story, but it was great).

Also, I’m a huge fan of the Back to the Future films, so much so I chose it as my subject on Mastermind one year.

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