Cilla Black will star in Cinderella at Liverpool Empire Theatre

The baddies dripped menace on cue and the principal boys showed a well-turned leg as a host of stars lined up to launch the pantomime season.

American actors such as Henry Winkler of Happy Days fame, and Starsky and Hutch star Paul Michael Glaser joined British celebrities such as Cilla Black and Gareth Gates to launch 12 pantomime productions across the country.

Dressed in full costume, the stars made an appearance at a shopping centre in north London, cheered on by primary school children well-rehearsed in pantomime catchphrases.

Black, dressed in a sparkling gown with a tiara and wand, who will play the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Liverpool Empire, said she was looking forward to "going home" to play her part.

"I am really looking forward to being a fairy godmother," she said before urging the assembled children on in chants of "Izzy wizzy, let's get busy."

Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg, who will play Baron Hardup in Cinderella at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, said he was having a "great time" and saluted the crowds before pulling out a camera to take a picture of the assembled photographers.

Winkler, who will play Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Milton Keynes theatre, waved his claw menacingly at the crowd before declaring: "I'm having a wonderful time."

He said afterwards of the cast of his show: "We are having the most extraordinary time on that stage together. There must be 40 of the most talented people dancing, singing, sword-fighting..."

The stars were launching First Family Entertainment productions of Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, The Wizard Of Oz and Peter Pan in theatres across the country.

Glaser will play Abanazar in Aladdin at the Sunderland Empire with fellow US celebrity Sheila Ferguson, a former singer with The Three Degrees. Gates will take up the role of Prince Charming in Cinderella at the New Wimbledon Theatre.