"Jack & the Beanstalk" @
The Birmingham Hippodrome
Christmas 2004
Letitia starred as Princess Apricot Crumble opposite "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!" King of the Jungle 2004, funnyman Joe Pasquale, as her hero Jack Trot
Birmingham Post; 12/21/2004; Alison Jones
As the vowel abusing Slater girls from EastEnders might put it Christmas is 'all abart famirleeee . . .innit'.
It certainly is for their EastEnders co-star Letitia Dean, though one with a Midland flavour.
Letitia is in Birmingham for the festive duration playing Princess Apricot Crumble from tonight in the Hippodrome panto Jack and the Beanstalk.
Joining her on stage will be her husband Jason Pethers, as the villain Fleshcreep, while her brother, Stephen Dean, is just a few miles away in Wolverhampton where he is the Grand's Prince Charming.
'My parents are in Lincolnshire so we are all quite close,' she says beaming.
She will need her family around her because as of December 25 she will officially be unemployed.
Her departure from the soap that she has starred in on and off since the age of 16 will be the big Christmas day storyline.
'It's always a big dramatic story then. Tears and laughter, comedy and tragedy,' she says.
She leaves the Queen Vic, tear stained and broken hearted after the love triangle between Sharon, her 'brother' Dennis and Zoe Slater finally comes to a head.
(This is not as incestuous as it sounds. Dennis is Dirty Den's real son but Sharon was adopted by Den and Angie as a baby).
The fact that she leaves just as there has been something of a cull of characters in a bid to halt plummeting audience figures, is entirely coincidental. Letitia simply she decided she needed some time off.
'I've been involved with the soap for 20 years. I wanted to get out and travel a bit. I got married while I was in the show and we want to see a bit of the world.
'It is nothing to do with wanting to take a break from Sharon, it is just such a punishing schedule. There are four episodes a week and it is just too hard for the writers to take people out for weeks at a time.'
She and Jason plan to spend a couple of months travelling 'we'll start with Europe, I love Italy but I have only been to Florence so far, I want to see Rome.'
However, without the security of a job to come back too she admits that a tempting offer might see her on the first flight home.
'Being an actor you just have to be brave really. If something comes along that lights my fire I can always hop on a plane.'
What she would really love to do is musical theatre - and panto is a step in the right direction.
'This panto is quite comedy based but it has got music in it. I think they are keeping it short because kids want to see the action. It's always when the Princess starts singing the ballad that they decide they want to the toilet. I guess they might hold on if it only lasts a minute.
'I haven't sung for a while so my voice is a bit rusty. It used to be mezzo soprano though I think it might have dropped over the years.
'Hopefully when I get going something will come out.'
Some fans with long memories might remember Letitia's brief flirtation with pop stardom back in the 80s. She released a single called Something Out of Nothing with then co-star Paul J Medford.
She remains quite proud of it, treating it as a bit of a laugh rather than a serious attempt at a singing career.
'It wasn't my attempt to be Kylie. I don't think the pop industry needs my dulcit tones.'
She'd rather see them put to better use belting out show tunes as a member of the cast of Chicago or Guys and Dolls.
'Stephen and I used to go to dance class in the village hall when we younger, then started doing musical theatre and cabaret, acting was a natural progression from that.
'I'd like to retrain in musical theatre. Coming off television after 20 years you can't expect to be any good at it. It's like an athlete, you have to get back into training.'
She also believes that the prospects of a career after soap are bright 'It was well known that soap used to be a hindrance but I think it has gone the other way these days.
'The floodgates have opened. Michelle Collins has done extremely well as has Ross Kemp.'
She and Jason would also like to start a family. Letitia, who is now 37, admitted that seeing her co-workers Jessie Wallace and Kacey Ainsworth become pregnant has made her feel a 'little bit broody'.
'I gave Kacey my dressing room because mine was downstairs and hers was up.
'She'd bring the baby, Blossom, into work and she is just divine. She had so longed for one (Kacey had previously suffered a miscarriage) it is lovely.'
Letitia's own birth in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, caught the attention of none other than the Queen of Romance Barbara Cartland.
'I was born on her estate. My parents were renting a cottage there and she gave my mum a board to put under her mattress to help her posture when she was pregnant.
'She used to call my mum the lady with the lovely legs. Unfortunately mine are a lot shorter than mum's.
'I never met Dame Barbara myself, but then I think she would have been horrified by EastEnders,' she giggles.
Letitia Dean filmed her final scenes for Eastenders last week and decided it was time to trade the square for the stage.
Dirty Den�s little princess has taken a trip up the M6 to play a starring role as Princess Apricot Crumble in Birmingham Hippodrome�s production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
Letitia is no stranger to pantoland � and she still enjoys it as much as ever: �There is a magic to live theatre. I love the energy of it and you get an immediate response from the audience that you don�t get with television.� Letitia is looking forward to appearing in Jack and the Beanstalk, which boasts the largest giant in the country and she is also looking forward to starring alongside Joe Pasquale. It seems he will be flying straight in from the jungle following the latest series of I�m a Celebrity - so we know who Letitia will be voting for! Let�s hope he takes his panto script with him!
Those going to see the panto should not be surprised to see little Dennis or even Pauline Fowler sat in the audience as some of the other cast members are threatening to come and see the panto. And Leitita�s husband, Jason Pethers will be paying close attention to her performance - as he is appearing in the pantomime as Fleshcreep the baddy.
There is a ten-day rehearsal period for the show and Letitia is now back in training for a musical performance, admitting that she has become �a little rusty� since joining Eastenders. Letitia, who originally trained in musical theatre, has promised a few songs in the panto and is looking forward to performing more musicals in the future.
Letitia plans to use her time in Birmingham wisely, and is looking forward to visiting some of the sights (and shops): �I love shopping and will definitely be paying a visit to Harvey Nic�s and Selfridges. Selfridges is one of my favourite stores in London so I am looking forward to seeing the one here.� So look out for Letitia doing her Christmas shopping between rehearsals.
Tish's husband Jason Pethers starred as the evil (yet gorgeous) Fleshcreep
I use these images with thanks to, and the full permission of Jen Clark
His TV credits include Captain Montgomery in For Valour, Peter Micheals in Eastenders, and most recently, Dr Robert Greening in Holby City.
Jason is also a very talented spartsman, who before going into the theatre, enjoyed playing first class cricket for Surrey.
Letitia's appearances on stage include a national tour of Loot & Private Laughter at the Birmingham Rep, as well as several pantomime seasons.
Letitia is delighted to be appearing at the Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas.
