ASPIRING actors from Inverclyde are full of beans ahead of starring in a spectacular panto alongside stars of TV shows Still Game and River City.

Excited young performers are preparing to tread the boards in Jack & the Beanstalk at the Beacon Arts Centre.

A total of 24 schoolchildren will star in the venue's festive extravaganza alongside Mark Cox and Jane McCarry - aka Tam and Isa from Still Game - and panto dame Jimmy Chisholm, who plays Sonny Caplan in BBC Scotland soap River City.

They will be split into three groups of eight children to share the performing duties during the intense three-week run, which starts on Friday.

Jane, who is fresh from a 15-night Still Game live farewell show at the Hydro in Glasgow, said: "It's great fun being back in Greenock for panto. "We have three brilliant teams of kids, they're all lovely and very talented.

"The script is great fun and I've turned myself around this year - I'm going to be a goodie and make an effort to be nice to people. "I've been trying to put a smile on my face, which isn't easy working with Mark Cox!"

Jane, who was the 'baddie' at the Beacon 12 months ago, plays the 'Queen' with her co-star also preparing for a role reversal as villain 'Fleshcreep'.

Mark said: "I'm very excited. "We have a very strong show and cast."

Like Jane and Mark, panto dame Jimmy and hilarious sidekick Lee Samuel are also back at the Beacon by popular demand.

Completing the line-up is Michael Karl-Lewis as 'Jack', 'Princess' Kim Allan, Ashley Andrew as the 'Fairy' with Paula Hasson and AJ Grant in the ensemble.

Johnny Palmer, from producers Imagine Theatre, said: "The script is by Alan McHugh and it's one of the best we've had.

"Out of the five years I've done panto here at the Beacon, I would say this is the best.

"It's very funny and the songs are great. "The cast are excellent, the kids are great and we have a talented team of dancers. "We're working day and night until we open on Friday. "It's long days for the children but they're doing very well."

A record 16,500 people flocked to the Beacon for last year's panto.

The 2019 run of Jack & the Beanstalk is on from Friday 6 December to Tuesday 31.

For tickets, visit beaconartscentre.co.uk or call 723723.