CHRISTOPHER Parker is literally flying high, because for the next month he has taken on the lead role in Peter Pan, now open at the Theatre Royal Windsor.

For the 25-year-old star of EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing, the role marks the first time Christopher has donned a panto costume, but he tells me so far he’s loving every minute of it.

The young actor says: “I’ve been asked to do panto before, but I kept turning it down because it was never cool to do it. But now more and more great names are signing up, so I thought why not?

“Plus I get to wear this really great outfit and I fit the bill perfectly because I still look so young.”

With a cheeky glint in his eye, Christopher adds: “I even still get asked for my ID to buy lottery tickets!”

Playing the boy who never grew up also gives Christopher the “fantastic” opportunity to fly across the stage, something of a dream come true for the self-confessed adrenaline addict.

“I’m actually a bit of a sports fanatic,” confesses Christopher. “I’ll try any sport once and I’ve completed two marathons for charity, which has been great.”

The north London resident is also a qualified climbing instructor and, before landing his long-running role in EastEnders, worked as a stunt double in the 2002 box office hit Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Not long after, Christopher joined the EastEnders cast as Spencer Moon, a role he stayed in for three years.

He tells me: “I have really fond memories of the show. I learnt a lot, I met amazing people and I came out the other side differently. You can’t buy that kind of experience and it really helped kick my career forward.”

Since then, Christopher has been working on a second career as an entertainment presenter on CD:UK, MTV and CBBC. He has also found a new legion of fans thanks to his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, but there’s no chance his dancing feet will find their way into Peter Pan.

He confesses with light-hearted humour: “I’ve just come back from a Strictly tour and I enjoyed it so much. But I was the panto figure in that really, because I still can’t dance!”

Starring alongside Christopher as Captain Hook is soap villain Jack Ellis, who is best known for his roles as Harry Mason in Coronation Street and Jim Fenner in Bad Girls.

The 53-year-old actor tells me he’s relishing playing Hook, a role he has tackled before, two years ago in Belfast.

He says: “It’s a great part, good fun and full-on. When J M Barrie wrote the story, he imagined Hook as an old Etonian with the look of Charles I.

“My take on him is he’s this pompous posh guy, but also a blackguard gone rotten. I see him as a bit of a cross between Terry-Thomas, Leslie Phillips and Jack Nicholson, so there’s definitely a camp side to him as well!”

Actress Elisabeth Sladen, best known as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, also joins the cast as Mrs Darling, while Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenter Hannah Williams stars as Wendy.

Peter Pan runs at Theatre Royal Windsor until Sunday, January 11, 2009. Details: 01753 853888