CLARETS boss Sean Dyche took time out from the team’s busy festive period in a traditional way by joining a Burnley singing star at the panto he is performing in.

Dyche’s tough guy image took a slight knock as he enjoyed a performance of Cinderella at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury on Monday.

The ‘Ginger Mourinho’ certainly deserved a night off after leading the Clarets to a battling 2-2 draw at the home of Premier League champions Manchester City the previous day.

And the Burnley links were even stronger at the theatre as Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Andrew Derbyshire, who grew up in the town, is enjoying rave reviews playing the role of Prince Charming.

He proudly tweeted a picture of the two of them, back-stage at the theatre.

He said: “Lovely to meet Burnley manager Sean today, watching our panto with his family.”

Andrew is enjoying the role in Cinderella, where he stars alongside Bolton-born Hear’Say singer Suzanne Shaw as the Fairy Godmother and ballroom dancing TV astrologer Russell Grant as Baron Hardup.

He will perform in Aylesbury until January 4.

Andrew’s sister, Jodie Forrest, said: “Andrew told me that Sean and his family popped backstage to meet him as his children were big fans after seeing him on Britain’s Got Talent.

“They had a chat and pictures taken and he wished his home town club the best for the rest of the season.”

Clarets fans will hope that – just like Cinderella – Dyche was back home from his big night out before midnight to prepare for the club’s next game away at Newcastle United tomorrow.

Derbyshire came to prominence earlier this year, when he received a standing ovation from all four judges at his Britain’s Got Talent audition.

Simon Cowell later labelled the former Accrington and Rossendale College student ‘a male diva’.

But critics watching Andrew’s performance at the Buckinghamshire venue are full of praise.

One wrote: “Andrew is continuing to wow audiences as he shows off his charming vocals by singing hits such as Sam Smith’s Stay With Me and John Legend’s All of Me.”

 

Some sporting panto stars?

Here are ten other sports stars suitable for panto...


Jenson ‘Buttons’

Graeme ‘Booo-ness’

Ashwell Prince ‘Charming’

Jiminy ‘Cricket’ Anderson

Matty Fryer ‘Tuck’

‘Dame’ Ellen MacArthur

Muhammed Ali ‘Baba’

‘Angel’ Di Maria

‘Tinker’ Graham Bell

Jimmy ‘Snow’ White

Tiger ‘Lily’ Woods