THE spirit of Christmas burst into the Bromley sunshine with a flourish of festive sparkle when the stars of Mother Goose arrived to launch this year's pantomime at the Churchill Theatre. They chatted to PAUL REVEL.

THE cast staged a preview to an audience of excited youngsters and their mums and dads.

Children's TV favourite Stephen Mulhern entertained with songs, jokes and magic. He introduced Jeff Hordley, who strode onstage to a deafening chorus of boos and hisses.

Playing Demon Vanity, Jeff is no stranger to being the villain after six years as the incorrigibly wicked Cain Dingle in ITV's Emmerdale.

Next onstage was Cain's former love interest Sergeant Angie Reynolds - actress Freya Copeland - who plays the Fairy. She proved to be in fine voice, belting out a ballad from the show.

Also singing was West End and cabaret star John Barr, who plays the King of Gooseland.

Then Mother Goose herself made a raucous entrance, in the form of veteran pantomime dame Ian Good.

And of course, the show would not be complete without the magnificent Priscilla Goose.

Stephen is the familiar face of kids' shows such as SMTV and Ministry of Mayhem. He has been performing magic since he was a youngster.

"My dad is magician and he's always taught me tricks," he explains. "When I was 16 I did work experience at Hamley's toy store as a magician and it took off from there. I went on to become a Redcoat and then toured with my own magic show."

Stephen became the youngest member of the Magic Circle at 17 and starred in several TV magic shows.

He is also an accomplished musician - but you won't see him playing piano or violin on TV.

It is something he does purely for enjoyment at home - but he did play publicly on one memorable occasion.

"When Jean Michel Jarre played his big Destination Docklands concert in 1988, he selected young musicians from the academy where I was studying.

"I couldn't believe it when I was chosen. I was very lucky."

Jeff has bowed out of Emmerdale in typically dramatic fashion. Cain is currently on the run with millions of pounds - proceeds from a fiendish kidnap plot.

Why did he leave the hit show?

"I'd had six good years on it," he replies. "I felt it was the right time to move on.

"They've kept the character open for me. So maybe I'll go back one day."

Meanwhile, Jeff is looking forward to enjoying a variety of work whether it is on stage, TV or radio.

He plans to move to the Bromley area with his family for the panto's run.

"Panto is great fun to do, it gets you right into the Christmas spirit," he says.

Ian has played countless pantomime dames and is an expert on the subject.

"I actually did an MA in pantomime," he explains. "It's about community, shared experience and word of mouth and it brings kids into the theatre.

"It's amazing how they know the stock phrases by heart."

He adds: "For me it's something of a crusade, because I'd like to bring it back to what it was. A lot of panto has turned into variety shows, which I think is a waste of time and energy. It should be about telling a story."

Ian has always been a supporter of children's theatre and is a trustee of the famous Polka Theatre company.

He will also be familiar to many as King Herod in several productions of Lloyd Webber's hit rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar.

"The music is fabulous," he says. "I've also directed it several times. The last time I was in Bromley was in 1985 with Superstar."

What has Freya been up to since Angie's gruesome death in Emmerdale?

Well, apart from various plays, TV and film work, "the biggest thing that's happened to me since then is my daughter, Lola, who's just turned two," she says.

At this point the rest of the cast starts singing: "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl "

"Yes," laughs Freya. "I called her that because I'm a big Barry Manilow fan but my husband will tell you she's named after The Kinks' Lola."

One thing the cast have in common is they all share a passion for panto.

"We have a responsibility," explains Freya. "For many kids it's the first time they go to a theatre, so it's up to us to make it the best we possibly can.

Mother Goose, December 1 to January 14. Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley. Tickets £17- £21, box office 0870 060 6620 or visit churchilltheatre.co.uk