From X Factor star to panto Christmas fairy

She might have won The X Factor two years ago but Sam Bailey is hoping her role in pantomime will be the beginning of a new career.
X Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomimeX Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomime
X Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomime

The singer is appearing as Fairy Bowbells in Dick Whittington performed at The Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury over the Christmas period.

It tells the rags to riches tale of a young man and his cat on an exciting quest for fame and fortune. Featuring all the traditional pantomime ingredients; sensational songs, a live band, dazzling dance routines, slapstick comedy and bags of audience participation - Dick Whittington is guaranteed to be full of wonder to delight audiences.

And Sam is hoping to use the pantomime as a stepping stone towards further acting opportunities.

X Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomimeX Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomime
X Factor star Sam Bailey stars in the Waterside pantomime

She said: “I am looking at going back to school so that I can do some sort of acting. It’s definitely something I want to get my teeth into.

“It’s something I can do but I have got to learn the logistics and different things that I don’t really know now. I’d like to do some comedy acting, that’s much more up my street.”

Pantomime is a traditional favourite with her family.

She said: “I went to pantomime every year when I was a kid, my nan and grandad used to take me. I started taking my children a couple of years ago and they love it so it is something that we do. I wanted to do it so that my children could see mummy in a pantomime.

“They are very excited as we normally go to the pantomime in Leicester and they have never seen Dick Whittington before. Although I think I will be nervous knowing that they are in the audience, but I am looking forward to it.”

Sam was recently dropped by her record label, and you could forgive her for not thinking entirely positively of her time on The X Factor.

But she said: “I embrace my time on the show. I wouldn’t be doing pantomime and there are lots of things I have done off the back of the show which I wouldn’t have done otherwise. I am really grateful and long may it last.

“The final weekend on X Factor was amazing. I got to meet Elton John and One Direction so that I was a little bit starstruck on the night.”

Dick Whittington can be seen from Friday December 11 to Sunday January 3.

Tickets for the show are now on sale and can be booked by calling the box office on 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/aylesbury.