Robbie Williams was the surprise guest as Brighton paid tribute to one of its best-loved theatrical figures.

Robbie, used to performing before tens of thousands of fans, took to the stage at the Theatre Royal during a charity performance of panto Aladdin.

The show was dedicated to former theatre manager Roger Neil, who lost his fight against cancer on Boxing Day. Roger had worked at the theatre for more than ten years.

Friday night's performance helped raise hundreds of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Research and the Brighton Cares charity, which supports people with HIV and Aids.

Robbie stunned the sell-out audience 30 minutes into the panto when he ran on stage and sang his number one hit She's The One.

Staff at the theatre had kept the star's arrival a secret. There were screams of surprise when the stage went black and a single spotlight revealed the singer dressed casually in jeans and a denim jacket.

Within seconds a crowd of adoring fans abandoned their seats and rushed to the front of the stage.

One young women tried to climb on stage to hug the former Take That star but was stopped by a cast member.

After finishing She's The One, Robbie ran off stage and minutes later was spotted leaving through the back door.

The star is no stranger to the Theatre Royal stage.

On Boxing Day he made another appearance during Aladdin but nobody recognised him as he was dressed in a monkey suit.

The star, known for his smashes Angel, Millennium and Let

Me Entertain You, was invited to the panto by his cousin, Jonathan Wilkes, who has the starring role.

Olympic gold medal-winning ice skater Robin Cousins also made a guest appearance during the tribute show, which featured Gary Webster, Wendy Turner and Mr Blobby.

He glided across the stage on a pair of roller blades as Robbie burst into song.

It was Robin who taught the pop singer how to ice skate for the video to She's The One.

Chris Ellison, who plays Det Insp Burnside in The Bill, also took to the stage wearing a plastic policeman's helmet.

After the show Chris dashed off to London for a 5am film shoot.

The tribute performance was a special late night adult-only version of the pantomime, which involved saucy jokes and risque humour.

Antony Johns, who directs, choreographs and stars in Aladdin, said he was delighted so many people came along to celebrate Roger Neil's life.

He said: "We wanted to do something special in memory of Roger, who was a wonderful man. I spoke to Robin Cousins after a performance of Holiday on Ice and he said he wanted to be involved.

"Jonathan asked Robbie if he wanted to come down as our special guest and he phoned me to say he would be there.

"The show was a huge success and raised thousands for Macmillan nurses and Brighton Cares, a charity close to Roger's heart.

"The show marked the great respect we all had for Roger."

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