TOWIE star Mario Falcone will be taking to the stage in Sussex for panto season.

Mario will be playing the role of Abrac the witch’s henchman in the production of the Wizard of Oz this year in Worthing.

Mario is famous for his part in reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex, known as Towie.

He also regularly makes public appearances with his fiancée Lucy Mecklenburgh.

Paul Hammond, the producer, director and writer of the production at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing, said: “It’s very exciting to have Mario playing the witch’s henchman as we take our festive journey to Oz.

“We’ve given the classic story a modern, pantomime twist which will let Mario’s personality shine through.”

Mario shot to reality TV stardom after joining the popular ITV2 show during season three.

He has just completed filming season six which included celebrating the news of his engagement to fellow star Lucy after his surprise proposal during the hour-long special The Only Way is Marbs in June.

Presenters Mario will be joined on stage by Sussex’s Heart Breakfast presenters Tom Evans and Jack The Lad Hayes, while pantomime and musical leading lady Sarah Brown steps into Dorothy’s shoes.

Sleeping Beauty

Meanwhile ITV Superstar’s Jon Moses will be appearing as Prince Valiant at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing alongside Hi-De-Hi’s Nikki Kelly in Sleeping Beauty.

It will also feature Bobby Crush, who has been famous in the UK for more than 40 years – primarily as a pianist but also as a songwriter, broadcaster, actor and TV presenter.

He will play Nurse Katy Cough-Drop.

Bobby is perhaps best known from his six winning appearances on TV’s Opportunity Knocks.

Perhaps not such a well known fact is that Bobby wrote the hit Orville’s Song (I Wish I Could Fly) for Keith Harris and it was on the Connaught stage where Bobby heard that the song had charted at number four.

The Wizard of Oz runs at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing from December 13 to January 6.

Sleeping Beauty runs at the Connaught Theatre from December 7 until January 5 2013.

For more information on the shows call 01903 206 206 or go to www.worthingtheatres.co.uk .