In Bristol Hippodrome’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk, Richard Cadell plays Silly Simon alongside Sooty, with the further cast including Benjamin Yates as Jack Trot, Ashlyn Weekes as Princess Jill, Charlie Brooks as Mrs Blunderbore, Will Young as Spirit of the Beans and Andy Ford as Farmer Trot, and Richard also directs the pantomime, which is running until Sunday 4th January 2026. Having been a guest on the 1985 Christmas episode of The Sooty Show, Richard succeeded Matthew Corbett in 1998 as the show’s presenter, and earlier this year, Richard performed at Sooty Land at Crealy Resort with Sooty, Sweep and Soo to celebrate Sooty’s 77th birthday. Richard appears with Sooty, Sweep and Soo on Sooty, which airs on CITV/ITVX, and it’s been announced that Richard will take time off to spend time with his family, though he will be producing and directing the 2026 The Sooty Show tour. Speaking with Richard, he told us about being in the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk as Silly Simon alongside Sooty, celebrating Sooty’s 77th birthday at Sooty Land at Crealy Resort and what it’s like being the presenter with Sooty, Sweep and Soo since taking over from Matthew Corbett in 1998.
This festive season, you are playing Silly Simon alongside Sooty in Jack and the Beanstalk at Bristol Hippodrome, have you performed in Jack and the Beanstalk previously and what do you think the story will be like to tell?
I have appeared in over 40 pantomimes but never ever Jack and the Beanstalk! So this is a first for me. I’m also the director so I’ve made sure that the story has been told well as I think that’s so important for the children. But there’s also lots of laughs for the adults!
What is Silly Simon like to play and what can audiences expect from your portrayal of the character?
He’s great to play because he has so much interaction with the audience. I like to ad-lib a bit and you’re never too sure what’s going to happen, which gives me and the audience the extra excitement. It’s a great comedy part and I’m having a lot of fun – particularly working alongside the legendary Andy Ford.
What are pantomimes like to rehearse for and how different do you find them to your own tours?
We take about 10 days to put the entire show together, which is an immense task. My own tours are much simpler because it’s just me with Sooty, Sweep and Soo! Whereas this panto is a huge elaborate production with over 40 people working on the show.
As well as Sooty, the cast includes Benjamin Yates as Jack Trot, Ashlyn Weekes as Princess Jill, Will Young as Spirit of the Beans, Charlie Brooks as Mrs Blunderbore and Andy Ford as Farmer Trot, what are you looking forward to for working with them at Bristol Hippodrome over Christmas?
I always look forward to making new friends. When you work so closely with a new group of people over a time as special as Christmas, it’s inevitable that you form close friendships. This is a very happy show and we’re all loving each other so I know that once the show finishes, we’re all going to be keeping in touch. That’s just as important to me as putting on a great show.
Is there anything you enjoy most about performing in pantomimes and how is it interacting with a pantomime audience?
I love the unexpected! You can never predict what an audience is going to do or shout out and I love that element of excitement. Plus, with a pantomime, if things go wrong I think the audience love it more than we do. So the fact that we don’t over-rehearse means that anything can go wrong and often does!
Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Jack and the Beanstalk at Bristol Hippodrome, which is booking until Sunday 4th January 2026?
I’ve been in so many pantomimes, but I think this one tops the lot. There’s so much in it! As well as a great story and some massive laughs, there are some huge special effects. I won’t spoil it, but some of them will literally make your jaw hit the floor. It’s truly spectacular.
Earlier this year, you performed at Sooty Land at Crealy Resort to celebrate Sooty’s 77th birthday, how was it performing at the resort?
It’s always fantastic performing there because the audience is made up of hardcore Sooty fans. So we always go really well and the audience love us before we’ve even said hello!!
How do you find the experience touring with The Sooty Show and how is it seeing different generations enjoy the shows?
It’s very rewarding when you see grandparents bringing the grandchildren to the show because they loved it when they were kids. I’m proud of the fact that I haven’t changed the format and it is as they remember it.
It has been announced that you are taking a year off from touring to spend time with your sons, though you will be producing and directing the new The Sooty Show 2026 tour; what can audiences expect from next year’s tour?
Yes, I’ve become a father quite late in life. I have two wonderful little boys and I don’t want to miss these very special years so I’ve handed the show over to a very trusted team. Of course, the stars of the show remain the same – Sooty, Sweep and Soo will be up to their usual antics, much to the delight of everybody.
Since 2011, you have starred in Sooty on CITV/ITVBe alongside Sooty, Sweep and Soo, what are some of your favourite memories from filming the series?
The series is still running every day on ITVX. I have filmed over 100 episodes so it’s tricky to pick out a favourite. Possibly the episode where Matthew Corbett came out of retirement to play a delivery driver – that was a lot of fun. We have just finished filming a new series, though I’m not sure when it’s going to be shown.
What do you remember most from making a guest appearance in a Christmas episode of The Sooty Show in 1985, and how was it succeeding Matthew Corbett in 1998?
All I remember from the 1985 appearance was being so excited to meet my heroes. I was always such a fan of the show. I couldn’t believe it when they chose me to take over from Matthew Corbett back in 1998. It was a tough act to follow – almost impossible. But I literally didn’t stop crying with happiness for six months. It’s been a dream job, and I can’t believe it’s over 27 years ago since I started – I’ve loved every second.
What is it like performing with Sooty, Sweep and Soo, and do you have any stand-out highlights from your career with Sooty so far that you can share?
It’s always amazing. For me, the most enjoyable moment is to see Sooty on his drum kit, Sweep on the guitar and Soo playing the piano. Whenever I do a sketch with that, it always gives me a pang of nostalgia as this is what I remember them doing when I watched as a child. I sometimes have to pinch myself to remind me that I’m standing next to them when they do that!
How did you get into performing and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
My mother was an actress so I was around shows from an early age. When I was four years old, my mother took me to see a pantomime and I was invited up onto the stage with some other children to sing. That was the moment I knew I wanted it to never end. I started doing magic shows when I was a child and I was named The Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year when I was just 15. It was pretty obvious to everybody that it was going to be my career. I can’t imagine doing anything else – and I wouldn’t know how to!
What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?
I love horror films. Alfred Hitchcock‘s Psycho remains my all-time favourite, with The Shining a close second.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m a theme park junkie and I love riding roller coasters. Now I have a young family, it’s an excuse to visit as many parks as possible! Other than that, I just love spending time with my little family. That’s the most magical feeling of all and I’m truly blessed.
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