BOND girl Britt Ekland is to star in this year's Swindon pantomime of Cinderella.

In recent years the Wyvern Theatre has attracted stars mostly from TV soaps for its annual pantos, so to scoop a film star of such a high calibre is a real coup.

Britt takes the role of the fairy godmother in the production, which will run from Friday December 8.

Daryl Back, from One From the Heart Theatre Company, is producing the pantomime and she is thrilled to have Britt on board.

"It's wonderful to have such a big name this year,'' she said. "Cinderella is the most glamorous fairytale so to have a film star and queen of glamour such as Britt is just perfect.'' Britt starred alongside Roger Moore in The Man With The Golden Gun in 1973 as Bond girl Mary Goodnight.

She has appeared in more than 30 feature films during her career, including The Bobo with Peter Sellers, her former husband, The Double Man with Yul Brynner, The Night They Raided Minsky" with Jason Robards, Scandal with John Hurt, The Wicker Man with Edward Woodward and Get Carter with Michael Caine.

The Swedish actress has been held up as one of the world's most beautiful women and at 63 years old she is still staggeringly attractive and into fitness in a big way.

She brought out her own exercise video in 1992 called Britt Fit, which the Wyvern's general manager, Andrew Hill, said he was trying out to get fit for this year's panto.

"She is also into raising awareness of health issues, particularly Alzheimer's disease, following the death of her mother from the disease last year,'' said Andrew.

She has been in the limelight all her working life from the moment she appeared in a toothpaste commercial at the age of 15 years.

Her love life has been much publicised from the word go when she married Peter Sellers, who had a heart attack on their wedding night, to her affair with Rod Stewart, which ended in a lawsuit.

But the high-profile actress has sailed through, moving effortlessly from films to TV, including appearances in Absolutely Fabulous and Noel's House Party.

Last year she was on tour with the West End hit Just Desserts.

Britt will be arriving in style when she drops into Swindon's Lydiard Park in July in her golden coach pulled by the nationally-renowned Ian Lucken panto ponies, which are specially-trained for the stage at Ian's farm near Twyford.

When she comes to Swindon she will be bringing her little dog called Tequila, who will also be starring in the show.

"We will keep him away from the ponies though,'' said Daryl. "Just in case.'' The classic rags-to-riches fairytale of Cinderella will run until Sunday January 7 2007.

More details from the box office on 01793 524481.

Who was who at Wyvern

SOAP stars have taken many of the leading roles at the Wyvern during the last 15 years:

  • 1991 Cinderella with Matthew Kelly
  • 1992 Jack and the Beanstalk with Trevor Bannister (Are You Being Served).
  • 1993 Snow White Brian Hibbard from Coronation Street.
  • 1994 Dick Whittington with Jimmy Cricket comedian.
  • 1995 Aladdin with Timmy Mallett comedian.
  • 1996 Cinderella with Jess Conrad and Bernie Clifton.
  • 1997 Robin Hood with Paul Leyshon and the Roly Polys.
  • 1998 Jack and the Beanstalk with Colin Baker and Jane Rod and Freddy (Kids TV).
  • 1999 Snow White with Jacinta Stapleton from Neighbours.
  • 2000 Aladdin with Aleetza Wood from Home And Away, Juliet Kaplan from Last of Summer Wine and Geoff Hincliff from Coronation Street.
  • 2001 Cinderella with Jane Tucker (Rod Jane and Freddy) Emma Wills (soap) Bernie Clifton.
  • 2002 Dick Whittington with Vicky Binns, Liam Dolan and Ross Davidson.
  • 2003 Goldilocks and The Three Bears with Colin Baker.
  • 2004 Jack And The Beanstalk with Paul Bradley from Eastenders and Juliet Kaplan from Last of the Summer Wine.
  • 2005 Peter Pan starring Steven Pinder, from soap opera Brookside.