Birmingham Hippodrome panto stalwart Matt Slack is without doubt one of the funniest and most entertaining performers in the business. Matt always looks like he’s having the best time up on stage, so we asked him to share some of his best moments. Here’s what he had to say...

FIRST STAR-STRUCK MOMENT 
I’ve worked and met with many famous faces over the years, and I never tend to get star-struck. However, when Sir Bruce Forsyth came down to the Babbacombe Theatre to film his autobiography documentary, I got to spend precious time with him both on and off stage. Huge moment for a young comic. He was an idol and a true pro!

WISH YOU HADN'T DONE THAT MOMENT 
There’s been a number of shows over the years where there’s been a 3D section. It’s a great bit of the show, plus it gives us on stage a break. The audience are given a pair of black 3D glasses and are told when it’s the right time to put them on. I noticed a guy in the front row who was wearing them from the start, so I told him that this was not the 3D section of the show, and of course everyone laughed. Little did I know he was blind, until he politely pointed it out. Luckily he saw the funny side, but I felt awful. Never lose your sense of humour, regardless!

MOST PHYSICALLY DEMANDING MOMENT 
I wrote and performed a lip-sync routine for Dick Whittington, where I fell off the stage into the orchestra pit onto a crash mat. That was fine, but when I rushed to get back up, I went over on my ankle. Nothing broken luckily, but the sprain was the worst possible. I had a detached ligament and still suffer with it now. However, I finished the show, hopping through it, and then off to A&E. The things you do for a laugh! Regardless of many injuries, I’ve never taken a show off.

MOST VOCALLY CHALLENGING MOMENT 
Performing two shows a day for six weeks with a paralysed vocal chord. That was not only physically demanding but also hugely challenging mentally. I thought I was letting the audience down by not being at my best, but how wrong I was. The support I received is something I’ll never forget or ever take for granted.

MOST SURPRISING MOMENT 
During a routine of The 12 Days Of Christmas, I fell into the curtain cloth, which then came down. Anyway, behind the curtain, the crew had set a dodgem car that was used for Paul Zerdin’s entrance. I banged my head on it and was unconscious for a few seconds. That was a bit of a surprise!

STRUGGLED TO KEEP IT TOGETHER MOMENT 
There have been many moments on stage where I’ve lost it in a comedic sense, and there’s nothing quite like it when we, as well as the audience, are engaged in that moment. I completely lost it when Darren Day as Captain Hook got stuck in the jaws of the crocodile. He’d pressed the emergency cut-off button by mistake and was just stuck there. I just laughed and was no help whatsoever. Eventually stage management came on and rescued him. I’m still laughing!

REALISATION THAT THIS IS THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD MOMENT 
The audience reaction on my first entrance gets me every time. It’s something quite special, particularly since my time in Birmingham. It’s like coming out of lockdown and being allowed in a pub!

BEST AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION MOMENT 
The relaxed performance is very special. To look out at an audience full of children and adults who wouldn’t normally feel comfortable in that environment is, for me, a highlight of the whole run.

MOMENT YOU’D MOST LIKE TO RE-LIVE
I’ve experienced many big laughs during my time performing at the Hippodrome, but the biggest reaction I’ve ever had, and probably ever will, was the time I dropped a kid into the orchestra pit. It was a risky decision that paid off with a reaction of both shock and hilarity. The kid in question, Nicholas, loved doing it every show, and it was perfectly safe. Personally, I would’ve asked for danger money!

Matt Slack stars in Robin Hood which shows at The Alexandra, Birmingham from Saturday 16 January until Sunday 31 January. Click HERE for tickets.