Pantomimes are renowned for their sexual innuendo and close-to-the-knuckle gags (oh yes, they are!).
However, a mum-of-two was left FUMING after taking her two kids to see John Barrowman and 1980s TV legends The Krankies in Dick Whittington at the Manchester Opera House recently.
In fact, so angry was Natalie Wood with the show’s “sexualised” content, she sent an email to the production company calling for it to be AXED.
It read: “Our family is disgusted with this production. It has ruined our annual Christmas panto outing, and left us feeling uncomfortable and concerned about what the children were exposed to.
“We are far from prudes, but there has to be boundaries where children are concerned.
“My children were repeating ‘Alice loves Dick’ and sticking their fingers out of their trousers for a pretend penis throughout the evening.
“This is not acceptable, and my children required far too much explaining about adult humour for a family show.
“Eleven of us are furious that the production was given the go-ahead. Who is responsible for adult content in a child’s performance? The show needs stopping.”
Read more: Piers Morgan calls John Barrowman a “D***” on Good Morning Britain
Natalie told the Manchester Evening News: “I have never been at a pantomime where I felt so uncomfortable. The whole show was very sexualised.
“John Barrowman sat Jimmy Krankie [played by Janette Tough] on his knee and started fondling her breasts. He then takes his hands off and she puts them back on again as if to say ‘I was enjoying that.’
“We thought that was wrong being a female, but the fact it was supposed to be a schoolboy, it was just a step too far.”
In response to Natalie’s email, Qdos Entertainment issued a statement that read: “In keeping with the tradition of pantomime, the script does make use of double entendre, and part of that is a play on the names of the characters.
“None of the humour within the show is intended to cause offence of any kind, and the enjoyment of our audiences is always paramount.
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“We value all feedback we receive, and the Qdos creative team regularly review all comments in order to inform the development of our shows, both currently on stage and scripts for the future.
“Qdos are delighted to bring our production of Dick Whittington to Manchester Opera House. We have already received excellent audience feedback during the show’s previews and are looking forward to a great Christmas in the city.”
Last month, former Doctor Who star Barrowman, 52, was the target of a bit of double entendre himself as he appeared on Good Morning Britain.
Piers Morgan introduced the topic of the actor’s current panto work by saying: “So, you are a D***.”
The presenter later revealed that Barrowman had bet him that he wouldn’t make the comment live on air.