LOVE him or loathe him, there's no denying that Jim Davidson knows how to put on a good show.

The curtain lifted at The Mayflower this weekend on what has to be one of the most entertaining and impressive pantomimes around - for young and old alike.

From the moment he took to the stage, the cheeky TV comedian had the audience eating out of his hand.

And it wasn't just the kids who were spellbound by this lively retelling of a Christmas classic.

With Dick Whittington, Davidson has brought the much maligned panto tradition high kicking into the 21st century.

The show captured and kept the attention of its audience with the help of impressive special effects, including lasers and pyrotechnics, and video projection which turned the stage into a cinema screen.

The sets were also very impressive, both in their lavishness and their number, taking the panto through a huge variety of locations, from a London shop to the Twighlight Zone via the seabed.

However, despite these flashy extras, at the heart of this panto was a strong cast of fine performers, including Kate Ritchie, John Virgo, and Roger Kitter, who kept its momentum going for over two hours.

From its hilarious ad-libs to its audience interaction, this was family entertainment at its best. Dick Whittington is on at The Mayflower until January 20.