The UK Pantomime Association has announced that pantomime and showbiz legend Anita Harris will become its new President.
Anita Harris is a celebrated English singer, actress and entertainer whose career spans over six decades. She made her pantomime debut in 1962 in Babes in the Wood at the Gaumount Theatre, Southampton, and has since appeared in more than 20 pantomimes across the UK.
Her roles have included Principal Boy, Principal Girl, Fairy and Villain, most recently starring at Theatre Royal Windsor from 2021 to 2023. Harris has shared the stage with pantomime greats including Allan Stewart, Una McLean, Max Boyce, Dora Bryan, Jimmy Tarbuck, Jack Tripp, Billy Dainty, Terry Scott and Frankie Howerd.
Beyond pantomime, Harris spent two years as Grizabella in the West End production of Cats at the New London Theatre. She has appeared in two Carry On films, starred in the children’s series Jumbleland, and taken roles in Casualty, EastEnders and Midsomer Murders. In 2018, she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.
Her recording career began in 1961 with EMI and the John Barry Seven. In the mid-1960s, she had a string of singles, including her 1967 hit ‘Just Loving You’, which reached Number 6 in the UK charts and sold over 600,000 copies.
Speaking about her appointment, Anita Harris said:
“I feel blessed and honoured to be made President of the UK Pantomime Association, a charity that not only pays tribute to the past years of pantomime but also encourages new talent and celebrates, with open arms, the future of the quintessential British artform that is pantomime.”
Simon Sladen, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association, added:
“We are delighted to welcome Anita Harris as our new President. A true doyenne of pantomime and an iconic star of the entertainment industry, Anita brings not only her extraordinary talent and decades of experience delighting audiences across the country, but also her warmth and deep passion for the art form. We look forward to championing pantomime together under her Presidency.”
Anita Harris recently performed at The Pantomime Awards 2024 in Woking and attended a Parliamentary Reception in November to highlight the vital role festive programming plays in UK cultural life.
More information can be found here.
