STARS of the stage Danny Adams and Clive Webb have been given the ultimate accolade by becoming the 2018 inductees to the Panto Hall of Fame.

The father-and-son comedy duo join the likes of Christopher Biggins, John Barrowman and Andy Ford in the Panto Archive, set up in 2015 to honour those who have made a significant contribution to pantomime.

The slapstick favourites have headlined Newcastle’s Theatre Royal panto for 13 years, regarded in the business as one of the best in the country.

Darren Chivers, Panto Archive founder, said: “This year’s choice was a no brainer, this popular duo have a strong following and are well respected and loved on the panto circuit, they have a very loyal fan base who adore them and look forward to their pantomime appearance each and every year.

“They are panto royalty especially in Newcastle. They deliver year on year and performance after performance and they keep their routines fresh and vibrant, they have such energy and passion, they are so deserving of this accolade, perfect ambassadors for the world of panto.”

He added: “Aside from their Newcastle appearances they have previously delighted panto audiences up and down the country with appearances in Swindon, Stoke, Darlington, Swansea and Belfast to name just a few.”

Clive and Danny have topped the bill at Newcastle Theatre Royal since their debut with Jill Halfpenny in 2005, making them household names in and around the North-East.

Danny, who relocated to Newcastle after meeting his wife, a fellow cast member of the panto, said: “The panto in Newcastle has been our life for such a long time and we absolutely love it. It’s an intense gig – three months of two shows a day, six days a week, but to know we are appreciated for our hard work makes it so worth-while.

“We love the Geordies and now I live here I feel like an honorary Geordie too.

“Being named as the 2018 Panto Hall of Fame entrants means so much to us. We love what we do and will continue to do panto for as long as people will have us.”

This year will also see the pair bring their Cirque Du Hilarious ‘Magical Mischief Tour’ to the region when they pitch up their big-top tent in Tynemouth for three weeks from August 14 to September 2.

The show will feature two hours of slapstick, international circus speciality acts, magic tricks and their famous tongue-in-cheek humour at the Laughter Dome Big Top, pitched at the Beaconsfield, next to the Blue Reef Aquarium.

More dates for the north will also be announced at a later date.

For more information visit www.cirqueduhilarious.co.uk, search Cirque Du Hilarious on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @cirquehilarious. Head to www.ticketweb.uk/events/org/224223 for tickets for the Tynemouth show.