A lasting legacy for TV personality Keith Chegwin comes to Whitchurch later this month.

Actress Leslie Ash will be joined by children’s TV presenter Dave Benson-Phillips, and Ashleigh Butler and her dog Sully, stars of Britain’s Got Talent, on the stage of the Civic Centre for a pantomime performance of Alice in Wonderland on Saturday, March 31.

Mayor of Whitchurch, Councillor Tony Neville, has exclusively revealed how the whole event was because of ‘Cheggers’ after he opened the annual Food and Drink Festival last summer.

“We’re very honoured that they are coming,” Cllr Neville told the Herald, “But it all came about when Keith Chegwin came to Whitchurch last year.

“He said ‘If you ever want a panto let me know, the Civic is the perfect place for it’.”

Tragically, the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop presenter died suddenly in December at the age of 60, but not before he had been in touch with Anton Benson Productions Ltd, who are touring the show across 16 UK venues in March and April.

Cllr Neville continued: “They were blown away by the Civic and were happy to bring the tour to Whitchurch.

“Keith definitely wanted to be in the panto – he was a lovely man.”

Cllr Neville said he hopes Whitchurch will do the town proud and make the 2pm and 6pm performances sell-outs – and he added he certainly won’t be missing it.

“It’s something we have been trying to do to get some major events at the Civic Centre because at one time it was a big venue, it even hosted The Beatles.

“Events like this can only be good for the town.”

Alice in Wonderland will see BGT 2012 winners Ashleigh and Sully take the lead roles, while Men Behaving Badly actress Leslie Ash is the Queen of Hearts and presenter of 1990s TV show Get Your Own Back, Dave Benson-Phillips, is the Mad Hatter.

Tickets are available from ticketsource.co.uk