Ex-Eastenders actor Todd Carty is to play Abanazaar in Aladdin at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange. Picture: Ian Burt

FORMER EastEnders star Todd Carty joined the rest of the cast of this year’s pantomime Aladdin at Kings Lynn Corn Exchange where he has the role of the evil Abanazaar.

Aladdin is this years pantomime at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange. Pictured (from left) Junix Inocian (Cook), Scott Cripps (Wishee Washee), Todd Carty (Abanazaar), Charlene Ford (Aladdin) and Ian Marr (Widow Twankey). Picture: Ian Burt

Carty, who played Mark Fowler in Eastenders, will be third member of the soap’s cast to tread the boards at Lynn in three years after performances from John Altman and Letitia Dean in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

“I love to play the villain in a panto,” the former Dancing on Ice star said. “I’ve not done a panto for a couple of years so I’m really looking forward to spending five weeks here.”

Carty’s first major TV role was playing the lead of Tucker in BBC TV’s Grange Hill before going onto Eastenders.

He then went on to play the role of PC Gabriel Kent in ITV’s The Bill and is currently starring as Patsy in the UK tour of the stage show Spamalot.

Ex-Eastenders actor Todd Carty is to play Abanazaar in Aladdin at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange. Aladdin is played by Charlene Ford. Picture: Ian Burt

“I love pantomimes because they are all good fun and it’s the one time of the year you can throw on a frock and people won’t think anything of it,” he said.

Referring to his Dancing on Ice stint, he continued: “I don’t think I’m ever going to live Dancing on Ice down.

“I was asked if I wanted to appear and after speaking to my kids about it, I agreed to do it but I guess I didn’t really know what I was letting myself in for.

“I was told the penny would drop eventually but it never did for me – I fell down nearly all the time.”

Ex-Eastenders actor Todd Carty is to play Abanazaar in Aladdin at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange. Aladdin is played by Charlene Ford. Picture: Ian Burt

The pantomime runs from December 7 to December 31. Tickets are available on 01553 764864 or online at http://www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk