Look North Christa takes a bow in school panto

SHE’S behind you...and what a coup for youngsters at Rotherham’s Newman School when BBC Look North’s Christa Ackroyd popped in to see their pantomime.

Not only that, she agreed to take part, playing the role of a news reader of course.

“Christa was delighted with our performance,” beamed 14-year-old Patrick Dixon, one of the seniors who helped put on their version of Beauty and  the Beast.

He added: “We’ve rehearsed hard for a month and when we learned Christ was coming down from Leeds and including us in her busy TV schedule it gave us all a massive boost.

“It was like royalty popping in. I’ve never performed before anyone famous before.”

Christa added to Christmas cheer by agreeing to be a patron of Newman School when she spoke to the youngsters after the show.

She admitted that she’d been in panto before and demonstrated a thigh-slapping approach to treading  the boards much to the delight of the children and staff in the 

school hall.

One scene in the show which features a unique mock news report fronted by Christa has been recorded on film and makes up part of the pantomime.

“She showed a great sense of humour and was definitely up for a laugh,” said director, Jack Todhunter, “and I don’t know of any other schools in town that star such a well known face. “We are all delighted with her interest in our school and her lovely mentions of our achievements on Look North give us all a buzz.”