Tom Lister has returned to Blackpool Grand Theatre’s pantomime, having performed there in 2019, for this year’s Christmas show Aladdin, playing Abanazar, a role he’s played previously, working closely with Steve Royle as Wishee Washee, and the pantomime is running until 1st January. Most recently in musical theatre, Tom played Julian Marsh for two years in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End, and he has toured as Wild Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane for his first main musical role. On screen, Tom guest-starred in Casualty this year as Darren Priestley, and is probably best-known for his time as Carl King in Emmerdale, a role he played for ten years, with his final scenes airing in the live 40th Anniversary episode. We talked to Tom about playing Abanazar in Aladdin at Blackpool Grand Theatre, being in the cast of 42nd Street as Julian Marsh and working on Emmerdale for ten years as Carl King.

You are playing Abanazar in Blackpool Grand Theatre’s pantomime Aladdin, what can audiences expect from your portrayal?

I absolutely love playing the villain, I love the boos from the children and the reaction every time I come out on stage. But I also really enjoy making people laugh, so I try to find a balance between the two.

Having also played the role last year, what is Abanazar like to play and how is it getting into character?

Abanazar is an evil magician who is not very good at magic, so it’s great fun trying to do magic tricks very badly and then also being sinister and I mean, what can I say, it just comes naturally to me. I also grow a horrendous evil moustache every year for pantomime, which my wife loves.

How is it interacting with the pantomime audience as the villain?

There’s nothing quite like a pantomime audience for rowdiness and shouting out all kinds of things. You never quite know what you’re going to get. Every show is different and I love just seeing whatever happens in the room on the night.

What are you looking forward to for performing at Blackpool Grand Theatre and returning to their pantomime?

I absolutely love the Blackpool Grand. It’s the most intimate beautiful theatre. The audiences are always full of energy and noise and it’s close to home so it’s usually full of many, many people that I know very well.

What are pantomimes like to rehearse for and how was it meeting this year’s cast for the first time?

Pantomime is always very intense and very tiring. It’s 100 miles an hour from day one right to the final day but it is great fun. It’s an absolute blast, we work hard, we play hard. We have a great Christmas together as a company and then it’s all over.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Aladdin?

I recommend you booking tickets fast because it’s nearly sold out and the reviews have been very kind and very positive. It is an absolute triumph show even though I say so being in it – it’s great fun and it’s belly laughs from start to finish.

What did you enjoy most about playing Julian Marsh in 42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and what was the show like to be part of?

42nd Street was a dream of a role. I’ve always wanted to be in the West End and to be in that show playing the lead in the biggest company in town on the biggest stage in town was a dream come true. I had two wonderful years playing Julian Marsh in London. I’ll never forget it.

How was your time touring with Calamity Jane as Wild Bill Hickok?

Calamity Jane was my first main musical role. We toured for 18 months with that show and it was an amazing experience. Made friends for life. We sold out theatres up and down the country and yeah, I’ll never forget it. It was an absolute hoot of a show and working alongside Jodie Prenger was a lot of fun.

In June, you guest-starred in Casualty as Darren Priestley, how was this?

Yeah, that was my first episode of Casualty so I really enjoyed it. We actually filmed it back in January straight after pantomime last year, so that was great. Spent a long time lying in a hospital bed though so it was probably good timing after the tiring panto season to just go and spend a few days shooting in the hospital lying on a bed lol.

What are some of your favourite memories from playing Carl King in Emmerdale?

Where do you start with memories of 10 years on a television show that changed my life really? I still have great friends that I miss not spending every day with, but that show was just fantastic, and I was lucky enough to have some amazing storylines, and as a result of being in Emmerdale for the time that I was, I’ve been able to go on and do other great jobs in musicals and TV. It’s probably the main reason why I’m here doing panto in Blackpool this Christmas, so I’ll be grateful forever 👍🏻.

How did you find the experience filming your final scenes in the live 40th Anniversary episode, and what was it like seeing the viewers’ response?

Live TV isn’t something that’s done anymore. Soap were really the only ones that ever attempted to do live drama and it was the first attempt. Emmerdale made it a live episode so to be involved so heavily in that storyline was great. We rehearsed it like a play, and then when you were actually performing it live, you knew that there were 10 million people at the other side of the television camera. Just watching waiting for you to go wrong basically, but luckily enough, even though I was involved in about three different stunts, it went really, really well, and I absolutely loved every minute of it.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

I kind of fell into this career, truth be told. I have a lot to thank my English teacher Jeremiah Levels, who got me to perform in the school show and made me fall in love with Shakespeare and watching plays and films and really from that point it all just snowballed and here I am 30 years later.

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

Absolutely but too many to mention or choose from. But as it’s Christmas – it’s all Home Alone, Elf, Scrooge and It’s a Wonderful Life.

How do you like to spend your time away from your career?

With family and friends. Playing sport with my sons and walking my dogs. Simple pleasures which bring me lots of happiness.

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