16 July 2009
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Panto-time

Michelle as The Princess in Aladdin

Michelle gets A 'new' laddin!

She kept us entertained this summer with her antics in the Big Brother house, but now she's going to be starring in another pantomime!

Aladdin in St Albans

Alban Arena

Thursday 9 December 2004 - Sunday 2 January 2005

Box Office: 01727 844488

This year's festive treat at the Alban Arena is the traditional story of Aladdin with an added modern twist!

Spider-Man makes a special guest appearance as the Genie of the Lamp, alongside Michelle from TV's Big Brother (The Princess) and GMTV's Jamie Rickers (Wishee Washee).

This Christmas, Big Brother 5's Michelle Bass is following the road of many reality TV stars and will be appearing as The Princess in Aladdin - this year's festive offering at the Alban Arena.

Life has been one big whirlwind for Michelle after leaving the Big Brother House in August, with the press probably focusing more on her fledgling relationship with fellow housemate Stuart, than her future career.

But for Michelle, being on the stage will give her, and us, the chance to see what she can do when you take away the cameras - and Stuart for that matter!

She says that she is looking forward to her stage debut very much, although understandably she's a little bit apprehensive.

The cast of Alban Arena panto (photo: Peter Ryan)

"I'm signed up to an agency and when they were approached about the idea of me being the Princess, I thought it would be very exciting and also a fabulous experience" she says.

"I'm not nervous about singing but I'm a little bit nervous about the acting but I'm sure I'll do fine" she adds. "I'm very excited and I'm really looking forward to it."

Singing

Despite her interesting rendition of Pie Jesus in the Channel 4 show, singing is definitely not something that she should be worried about, as on other days she showed that she could belt out a number like the best of them. Nevertheless, she did say that she might consider some kind of instruction.

"I haven't been taking any singing lessons at all so I hope I'll be up to scratch!" she says. "But maybe that's something I'll need to think about."

"I'm not nervous about singing but I'm a little bit nervous about the acting."

Michelle Bass

Although Geordie Michelle will get Christmas Day off, she will be a long way from her native Tyneside and her family at Christmas. However, she says that this opportunity was just too good to turn down and she could catch up with them all later.

"Yes - I'll probably not see very much of them [my friends and family] this Christmas but this experience was very important to me" she explains.

"But obviously I can miss one Christmas without my friends. I can see them any time - if you know what I mean."

Chill out

Michelle is undecided as to whether this foray into theatre will lead to an acting career, or whether, like the eventual winner of Big Brother 5 - Nadia - she would think about releasing a single.

"We'll see how this goes first I think" she says about the acting. "Because I'm hoping I'll be alright.

"Obviously I'm very interested in music, and R & B music in particular, but I've not really thought about anything. It might be a nice idea for the future but I haven't really decided at the moment."

Michelle hasn't really had much time to think about her plans and says that between now and the start of rehearsals she is looking forward to getting a bit of rest.

"I'm going to get a few lie-ins and basically chill out because I've been really, really busy over the last few weeks" she says. "I'll just get ready to be busy!"

Happy

Michelle with Jamie Rickers (photo: Peter Ryan)

Appearing in front of thousands rather than millions may be a bit of a change, but it seems that what doesn't go away is the attention of the press.

She says that she is 'definitely' learning how to deal with them now, but is she hoping that a spell in panto will bring a bit of peace from the media?

"It's not something I've thought about" she admits. "I don't really mind the attention of the Press but I think I've learned a lot about them over the past few weeks. I don't have a preference either way to be honest."

And what about the lovely 'Chicken' Stu, what does he think about her latest venture?

"He's happy for me and thinks that I'll do really well and obviously he's looking forward to coming and seeing it" she smiles.

You can see Michelle in Aladdin at the Alban Arena from Thursday 9 December 2004 - Sunday 2 January 2005.

last updated: 17/11/04

Have Your Say

sarah
Saw Michelle this year. Oh my god she is fantastic!!!!. Couldn't believe how brilliant she was. Absolutely beautiful too. Perfect skin. Gorgeous Stu. Good on you chick xxxxx

Paul Argyle
I am an avid Michfan and I went to see her for the third and final time at the Alban Arena on New Years Eve and I was astonished with THIS particular performance because it was a huge improvement on the previous two others I had seen. I saw her first only on her second night and she was..... poor thing & still incredibly and painfully nervous ...understandably...but she should LOOKED absolutely stunning. The second performance I saw was much more polished despite just a couple of flat notes with her one of her songs and a misquoted line from one of the acts in the second part. None of that doesn't detract from the fact that although I think she'll be the first to admit she's no BONNIE LANGFORD or MARTINE McMUTCHEON......YET!!!! she is however undoubtedly a girl of tremendous promise and potential particularly with her singing which has come on in leaps and bounds since her BB days. I think Michelle typifies everything there is about wanting to be a star and famous. You have to be talented, committed and determined and want for nothing. You have to earn success and she is well on her way to achieving it. I think she's absolutely great and a gorgeous girl to boot. I wish her(and Stu)everything they wish themselves. Paul.....her devoted Michfan

Lauren
Michelle, I went to see you in Alladin as one of my christmas presents as you were my favourite in Big Brother. I think you were fantastic. Good luck chick xxx

Nicola
Saw Michelle in Panto on opening night and she was simply amazing, fantastic voice and played the role of the Princess perfectly. Cant wait to see it again, Well Done Michelle your a Star!

ALC
I just got back from seeing Michelle in Panto and she was good but what about the actress who played aladdin?? She was the star of the show and wasn't even on the program?! The panto was really good and so were everybody in it!

Louise
Michelle, your a star and will be great as the princess!! Good luck babe xx

martha
good lucky michelle bass love girl

peter grange
I have fell in love with Michelle bass. I have seen my girlfriends ok magazine. Michelle is beautiful. stuart wilson is one lucky guy. Good luck to michelle in aladdin

tina
good luck mich we are coming to see you all the way from ncle

Steve
Good luck Mich with the panto you will make a brilliant princess. Love you Mich. xxx

Sian
I want to wish michelle all the best to her and just say she going to be fab in panto.

BARBARA
I am so pleased Michelle is playing the princess.Can't wait to see her-she will be great. Mich was true winner of BB5.

Chris Bugler
I wish Michell all the best as The Princess I am sure she will be amazing.

nicky
way to go michelle, we know you can do it, all the love and luck in the world. you will be brilliant.xxx

glittergirl
Good luck Michy-Bobs!!!!. You are gonna be brilliant xxxx

michelle fan
Good luck to michelle , she is fab.I love you michelle

Mila
Michelle is a wonderful girl.Just to looked at her personality definately she has lots of talent.I like her so much for me she is the best one to watch on t.v.I wish you all the best, and good luck.

Karen
I'm really looking forward to seeing Michelle in Panto, I'm sure she is going to be fab.

Claire
Thank you so much for a lovely article. Its great to see that the real michelle is now being reported and not the heavily edited characther that c4 made up. Best of luck chick!

Julian Segal
I think it's great that Michelle is doing Panto. She showed creativity, compassion, humour, determination, courage and a really positive attitude and sense of fun in Big Brother. I think she's a great role-model and I wish her all the best in everything she does.

margaret
All the best for Aladdin Michelle you deserve it. You gave us so much pleasure in BB5. Thank you.

liverbirdi
I think michelle will be excellent in the panto ,like she was on tv this summer.Good luck michelle.

John B
Mr Warburton, or should I call you St. John. God has a place reserved for you in the front row, I'm sure. Good luck Michelle!

nicky
I cant wait to see michelle in panto, she is a star! You go girl you will be fabulous. A fantastic entertainer who will totally shine. you go Dollx

Julie
I'm positive that Michelle will do really well as the princess, good luck chick.

jane
im sure michelle will make a brilliant princess!! Good luck to her!!

mich
l love u mich and good luck to u men, u know u can do it we are all behind u no matter wat. u can sing, u can act wat more do u need. i hope the next step will be eastenders, chick coz i can see u there now. yeah

Nicki
I'm really looking forward to seeing Michelle in panto. She's a great girl, and I'm sure she'll have the time of her life during the course of the panto. Good luck Michelle!!

dave pardoe
im sure michelle will make it a great show. i hope to be there. she is amazing.

mrs v macnamara-keane
Good luck to michelle ,i think she will be great and it will be nice to see her in panto and i'm taking my four children to see her and my little brother and sister. I think she is so suitable person to be appearing in a panto( the one who is not suitable is nadia)

Sharon Bate
What a lovely interview with Michelle - thanks very much for it.

a sweetman
Good luck to Michelle she should have won Big Brother she was the most honest person in there.

Jackie Goodwin from Dublin
Congrats Michelle - I'am sure you will be fantastic as your such a talanted girl and have a really great future to look forward to. Enjoy!

MRS B
Michelle Bass will be great - she kept us entertained all summer with her sense of fun and laughter and even though she was edited really badly by Channel 4 she has shown a lot of dignity and has also shown what a lovely person she really is.

Marnie
I am sure Michelle will be fantastic in the Panto! I heard her sing on BB and she has a great voice! I wish her all the best!

John Warburton
So this is what Prince Charles was on about when he refered to people with no talent and ability thinking they deserved to get to the top without any hard work :) Seriously though, is someone who swore, drank, ran around naked, started fights, publicly sulked, allegedly had sex with another housemate and generaly behaved like a spoiled child, realy a suitable person to be appearing in a Childrens/Family show?

Beatrice Draince
Good luck to Ms Bass in her new role. I missed the last BB so cannot comment on her celebrity status. Still, she looks nice. In terms of named acts, its good to see Spiderman making another appearance in local amdram. He's a trooper, but I think local festive theatre misses the comic genius of Jon Gaunt, who won the Gielgud Award for Pantomime a few years ago for his hilarious portrayal of Snow White's "Grumpy" as an rotund ranting oaf.