Fans walk out of Catherine Tate's Palladium panto over crude jokes and high ticket prices

Fans walked out of Catherine Tate's Sleeping Beauty pantomime at the London Palladium amid backlash over crude humor, with several labeling the show a smutfest. The festive production, featuring Tate as Carabosse alongside Julian Clary and Nigel Havers, is described as the fastest-selling panto in Palladium Theatre history, even as some patrons complain about the content. Ticket prices reach up to £220, underscoring the demand for a show that appeals to families and adults alike.

With performances scheduled at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Palladium has long marketed the show as a family-friendly event for the holidays. An update on the theatre's website warns parents planning to bring their children that there is innuendo involved, advising parental discretion in light of the material. The production will run through December and into January, closing on January 11.

Reaction to the panto has been polarized. Some patrons took to TripAdvisor to share their criticisms, saying there was little story and that the show relied on routine innuendos rather than the traditional magic of pantomime. One reviewer suggested that Julian Clary, usually a source of quick wit, appeared unusually subdued and that the overall pace and cohesion of this year’s material were lacking. Others described the experience as dull, with repeated jokes and a thin plot leaving audiences disengaged and, in some cases, disappointed by the cost of admission.

Several posts on the site emphasized the mismatch between the price of tickets and the entertainment value, noting that the day out did not meet expectations for a family-friendly festive staple. Remarks highlighted that only Catherine Tate’s Nan sketches drew positive energy from the room, while the rest of the cast seemed unable to sustain the energy. The general sentiment among these reviewers was that the production felt more like a variety show than a cohesive fairy-tale pantomime.

Not all feedback was negative. A portion of visitors described the show as enjoyable in places, praising aspects of the theatre experience, the staff, and the views from different seat categories. Some attendees said the performance was still entertaining and that the Palladium itself remains a grand setting for holiday entertainment, even if the material did not resonate with every patron.

The cheapest tickets for Sleeping Beauty start around £35, with the most expensive seats advertised at roughly £220. The show’s commercial appeal—combined with the Palladium’s storied history—has drawn large crowds this season, even as word of mouth has grown more mixed. The Daily Mail has approached Tate and the London Palladium for comment as of publication.