The excitement has been building for weeks - but now the cat - or rather the rat - is out of the bag and the Big Pembrokeshire Pantomime has announced that its headliner is none other than Laila Morse - aka Big Mo from BBC1’s Eastenders.

Laila Morse made her small screen debut in The Bill - but has been a fixture in Soapland’s Albert Square for years… but now she’s swapping her cockney matriarch with a heart of gold - and the voice that could stop traffic - role to play the badass Queen Rat in Dick Whittington at Boulevard Theatre in Milford Haven.

“I can’t wait to meet everyone and play a baddie,” said Laila, who isn’t the only performer in her family. She’s the sister of Oscar-winner Gary Oldman. Hers is a serious theatrical pedigree - her stage name was coined by Isobella Rossellini - daughter of Hollywood icon Ingrid Bergmen,.

“I’m swapping the East End for the West of Wales, and I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

Laila Morse has also done her stint in the jungle, taking part in I’m a Celebrity in 2013 - the year that Kian Egan from Westlife won. She also threw a few shapes on the rink when she took part in Dancing on Ice, the year before.

Dick Whittington will feature a fully professional cast, alongside Laila Morse - and also a junior ensemble, made up of Pembrokeshire children.

The show runs from December 12-31 at Boulevard Theatre, Milford Haven, and tickets are on sale now from www.bigpembspanto.com