Yesterday it was announced that comedian Al Porter would be standing aside from this role in Polly and the Beanstalk in the Olympia this Christmas following recent allegations that have been made against him.

Today it has emerged that his replacement will be former Mrs Brown’s Boys and Gogglebox star Rory Cowan. Speaking of the news, Rory said he is "very happy to be joining the cast of the Olympia Theatre panto.

"I am a huge panto fan and treading the hallowed boards of The Olympia is a privilege for me".

Cowan, who quit Mrs Brown’s Boys after 26 years in July, will be starring alongside Dustin the Turkey, Fair City’s Ryan Andrews and Michaela O’Neill for the annual festive panto.

This won't be the actor's first panto experience, having previously starred alongside Alan Hughes as one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella at the Tivoli Theatre in 2014/2015.