Telford Panto Cinderella role a fairytale for Strictly star Camilla Dallerup

Leading lady Camilla Dallerup didn't visit pantomimes as a young girl. The Danish dancer, best known for her performances on Strictly Come Dancing, wasn't taken to such performances.

In more recent times, however, she has embraced the pantomime tradition. "I came to England 17 years ago and over here it's part of everybody's childhood.

"I met my husband, who is an actor, and went to see him in pantomime. I totally fell in love with it. I couldn't imagine a Christmas without it."

Camilla made her first appearance in pantomime last year, playing a fairy godmother, and is very, very excited about reprising the role in Cinderella at The Place @ Oakengates Theatre.

"It's so important to children. It's such a wonderful thing to be a part of. It was strange when I did my first one because I'd only done straight theatre, where you don't really speak to the audience, so it felt slightly 'out there'.

"As a performer, the fun part is never knowing what is going to happen. With panto, you just don't know what will go on. Somebody could shout something, that's the scary thing, but the unpredictability makes it a lot more fun."

Camilla enjoyed her experience of Strictly Come Dancing, winning series six with Tom Chambers in 2008. She was also the former partner of Brendan Cole, who continues to dance on the programme.

She said: "Strictly was just like being part of a whirlwind. As part of the show, you feel the momentum build as more and more people watch it and talk about it. It was great to be paired with Tom Chambers, who was a lovely guy, and it was great to win it.

"He was an actor who had always wanted to dance and together we managed to create our winning showdance, the night of the final was the most wonderful night.

"It wasn't something that we'd just worked on in the days before the final. It was something that Tom had dreamed about throughout his life, he'd always imagined doing that sort of black and white thing.

"He had what it takes and it was great to lift the Glitterball Trophy."

Camilla has enjoyed a varied career, also working as a model. "When I was a teenager, I used to model so that I could pay for my dance lessons. I have never been scared to put in the work."

In recent times, Dallerup has appeared in Calendar Girls, which has been on the road since 2011. "It's amazing fun. It's been a learning curve but I've got used to being on the stage, it's fun.

"Now I'm looking forward to the pantomime – and to getting stuck into my Christmas dinner when it's all finished."

* Cinderella opens tonight (December 7) at The Place @ Oakengates Theatre and continues until December 31. Tickets are available from www.theplacetelford.com or by calling 01952 382382.