A pantomime producer says this year's show will be sprinkled with tributes to a beloved dame.

Jason Sutton, a popular cast member with audiences at Brighton's Family Pantomime and well-known Brighton drag queen, died earlier this year.

Instead, co-writer David Hill will don the elaborate wig and colourful costumes to pay homage to his late friend, also known as Miss Jason, in the rendition of Sleeping Beauty at the Metropole hotel this Christmas.

David SuttonJason Sutton (Image: Chris Jepson)

"He was the best in the business," said David, who is responsible for co-authoring the script and signing the cast.

"I want to do him proud. He was a very, very dear friend of mine and he will be referenced in the show as my sister.

"We've even put in small touches, like the jester is called Chester - which was the name of his dog."

David said the work starts for the pantomime as soon as the previous year's finishes and he has to get in shape for the dozens of performances and seven costume changes in the script.

Read more: City roads to shut for huge electronic music festival

He said: "It's a big project, we have to cast it, bring in a full ensemble, put a marketing campaign together, build a 800-seat theatre at the Hilton...

"It's a massive project and it is a thrill. We've never done Sleeping Beauty before and we have been able to infuse it with so many more sketches.

"There are things we have never done before, for example we have never done a custard pie 'slosh' scene. I am slightly worried about that, but I think I am the one delivering the pies."

An evil Allison FernsAn evil Allison Ferns (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

He will be joined by BBC Radio Sussex's Allison Ferns as Caribosse and Ellie Earl as the Sleeping Beauty.

Allison said: "Once again I get to be a baddie - and it is the best role, hands down.

"I thought that I wouldn't like that everyone would boo when I come on stage, but it turns out I love it.

The cast outside Donatello'sThe cast outside Donatello's (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

"We have all of the ingredients for a perfect pantomime. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if I wasn't dressed in a ridiculous outfit on stage, really.

"The kids love it when I'm practising my evil cackles at home. I have a reason to be evil mum for a bit."

The show runs from December 19 to 30 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.