Fans walk out of Catherine Tate's panto as tickets reach £220
Audience brands 'smutfest' as Palladium panto featuring Catherine Tate, Julian Clary and Nigel Havers draws sharp criticism for lack of plot and overleaning on innuendo
Fans walked out of Catherine Tate's Sleeping Beauty pantomime at London's Palladium Theatre on Sunday amid widespread complaints that the show offered little plot, talent or genuine laughter after fans paid as much as £220 for tickets.
The festive revival, billed as the fastest-selling pantomime in Palladium history, stars Tate as Carabosse alongside Julian Clary and Coronation Street actor Nigel Havers. Performances are scheduled at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with the run marking the Palladium's tenth anniversary of its annual seasonal show and running through January 11.
An update on the theatre’s website warns parents planning to bring children that parental discretion is advised due to innuendo, a shift prompted by what many attendees described as a more adult-oriented tone than expected for a family-friendly showtime.
Fan reviews posted on travel sites reflect a division in reaction. Several attendees on TripAdvisor criticized the lack of narrative and the reliance on crude gags, with comments describing the production as a dull, at times exhausting experience that undercut the long-running Palladium pantomime tradition. One reviewer noted that Julian Clary, usually a trusted source of humor, appeared tired, and others said the material felt thin compared with past years, suggesting the show had drifted toward a leaner, more adult-oriented format.
Still, not every observer shared the same verdict. A subset of visitors praised aspects of the production, pointing to strong performances from the cast, the theatre’s staff, and the venue itself. Some suggested that for those who approached the show with lower expectations or who enjoyed the Palladium’s ambience, the experience remained entertaining enough to justify the trip.
Ticket prices have become a talking point in their own right. The cheapest seating is commonly listed at around £35, while some premium seats reach as high as £220, a disparity that fans say magnifies the sting of a underwhelming show. The Palladium’s management has not publicly addressed the price-to-performance criticisms in detail, and the show will continue to run through December and into January 11 as scheduled.
The Daily Mail has approached Catherine Tate and the London Palladium for comment. No statement had been provided at the time of publication.