"Milkshakes!" David Ribi & "Call The Midwife" star Laura Main in Sleeping Beauty this Christmas

Sunderland Empire and Martin Dodd for UK Productions are delighted to reveal 5 Milkshake! presenter, David Ribi, will be joining the cast of Sunderland Empire’s wonderfully wicked 2025 festive pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, as the dashing Prince Vincent from Friday 12 December 2025 until Sunday 4 January 2026.

David is best known for presenting the UK's number 1 Kids TV show, Milkshake! on Channel 5, where he can be seen every morning from 6am, though David is no stranger to musical theatre either. You may have seen him on stage in the 2016 UK Tour of Mamma Mia as Sky/Ensemble, Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show 2014/15 European Tour, or playing Sketch/Link in the Hairspray 2014 UK Tour, with many more stage credits to his name.

David is a Pantomime veteran with 12 years of festive performances to his name. He most recently performed as Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (2024 Bournemouth Pavilion), with Peter Pan and Dick Whittington also being core roles for him over the past decade.

David said: “I am so excited to be heading up to Sunderland this Christmas to meet all of you adventure seeking Milkshakers! I'm going to need your help to rescue Princess Rose, so get ready to cheer me on! See you there!”

Producer, Martin Dodd said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Milkshake’s David Ribi to Sunderland Empire as our charming Prince in Sleeping Beauty. On Milkshake he regularly wakes the kids up, so we’re looking forward to seeing if he can do the same for Princess Rose. With magic, music, and mayhem in store, this is one fairy tale you won’t want to snooze through – book your tickets now!”

David will be starring alongside the recently announced Laura Main, best known for appearing in all fourteen series of Call the Midwife, playing Fairy Snowfall. They will be joined by Wearside’s favourite funny duo, the sharp as a whip North East Queen of Comedy, Miss Rory (Boulevard), this year as Rorina the Cleaner and the quick-witted Tom Whalley as Vesta the Jester, both back by incredible popular demand. The pair will return to Sunderland Empire’s stage for a sixth year running and are sure to be cheekier than ever before.  

A beautiful Princess is cursed by the evil Carabosse on the eve of her 18th birthday party and can only be awoken by true love's kiss. Can the Good Fairy’s magical spell break the curse? Will she find her true love and live happily ever after?

Expect a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes, and exciting special effects to keep audiences both young and old entertained!

Don’t get caught napping! Sleeping Beauty will dazzle Sunderland Empire audiences from Friday 12 December 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026! Tickets are available online now at ATGTickets.com/Sunderland*

*A £3.95 transaction fee applies to online bookings.