It's big business - oh, yes it is!

Ugly Sisters Peter Robbins and Nigel Ellacott

It's as much a part of Christmas as turkey and presents.

The pantomime is a great British tradition.

But for many people it's also a big earner.

And not just the stars. They're the names who put bums on seats, but the companies who stage pantos depend heavily on a few weeks of the year for their income.

Qdos Entertainment is the world's biggest pantomime producer.

This year it has shows at more than 30 UK theatres, from Bobby Davro in Cinderella in Nottingham to EastEnder Steve McFadden as Captain Hook in Woking's Peter Pan.

Qdos employs a wardrobe team all year round, making, updating and repairing costumes - the average production gets through about 200.

Backdrops

Scenery workers are busy making props and backdrops for the shows.

And as soon as one season ends, the search begins for the 1,000 artistes, directors and musicians who will be making pantos the next Christmas.

It's like having turkey for Christmas dinner - you've got to go to a pantomime. John Spillers, Panto director

Qdos turns over more than £20m. In 1999 it bought out its biggest rival, E&B Productions, and just this year took over the pantomime arm of Jim Davidson's Midas Media Group, although the comedian will continue to star in the shows.

About 20 years ago, it was quite common for a panto to run from the week before Christmas until the end of February.

Only a few big theatres can sustain a run like that these days.

But for many, a panto is an important part of their income stream, bringing in up to 20% of the year's money.

Big names

At the Epsom Playhouse in Surrey there's a policy of not having big names but that hasn't been a problem.

Trevor Mitchell: Box office record

"For about the last five years we have had no stars whatsoever and have played on average about 90%," says general manager Trevor Mitchell.

"We've broken all box office records this year."

The biggest stars can command anything up to £40,000 a week, so you can see why Epsom has adopted its strategy.

Those lower down the scale will get paid a few thousand and it's someone you haven't heard of, they're probably lucky to earn more than £500 a week.

"I believe in paying for quality rather than being a star," says John Spillers, whose company is staging eight pantos this year, including Peter Pan at Epsom.

"They're nice enough people but some of them are televison guys and are not too experienced on stage."

Naff image?

But it's not just about the money. Names like Russ Abbot and Brian Conley do panto year after year. Roy Hudd has done more than 35, and also turns his hand to writing them.

Peter Pan is still popular

It might have had a naff image in the past, but people still like to go to see them.

"I don't think panto will ever decline in the UK. It's like having turkey for Christmas dinner - you've got to go to a pantomime," says John Spillers.

And it's that great tradition that's kept many unsung panto stalwarts in business.

Nigel Ellacott and Peter Robbins have been playing the Ugly Sisters for more than 20 years and also tour in a Magic of Pantomime roadshow.

Nigel also writes scripts, and he's not alone in that field. Every amateur panto production needs one, and there are numerous writers willing to provide the jokes, as topical or corny as required.

So if you fancy a traditional slice of entertainment this Christmas, you know where to go.

You can catch:

Big Brother winner Cameron Stout in Peter Pan in Aberdeen.

Ex-EastEnder Dean Gaffney as Aladdin in Croydon - you can also see the two women from the Lilt TV commercial as the Chinese police.

Cannon and Ball in Peter Pan in Wolverhampton.

Leslie "Dirty Den" Grantham in Belfast's Dick Whittington.

Lesley Joseph as the Wicked Queen in Snow White in Richmond.

For many of the stars, panto is a key part of their year, keeping their names in the spotlight.

But that's also part of the appeal. We wouldn't expect to see Mel Gibson or Tom Cruise - we'd much rather have the Chuckle Brothers!