THIS week for Looking Back, we will be looking into a Christmas past-time which is not just about the delightful feasts, presents and jolly red men in suits.

Christmas is a time of excellent entertainment, provided in the form of an excellent television schedule, but also through pantomime (oh no it isn't), and this week we will be looking at some of the pictures from pantomime past.

Whatever your age, you will have seen at least one, and if it was bad, it was probably more entertaining than it should have been.

Whether you groan or laugh, panto's have been entertaining audiences in West Dorset and across the country since the early 19th century.

There are so many to choose from, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, the list goes on and on.

The shows also see a wide range of stars participate in them, no matter how big or small the production.

One year, the Chideock Pantomime Players even managed to get John Challis to perform as Widow Twankey in its three night production of Aladdin, with a reporter in the December, 3 1993 edition of the Bridport News commenting that Challis 'completely stole the show' with his 'electric blue wig, outrageous costumes and witty ad libs."

Despite not giving a pantomime this Christmas, next year promises to be an excellent year for panto.

Bridport Pantomime Players will be bringing to the stage Robin Hood, and Lyme Regis Pantomime Society will be presenting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from Wednesday, February 20 to Saturday, February 23 at Woodmead Halls.