Cbeebies's Gemma Hunt takes Our Kent Family on a swashbuckling adventure behind the scenes of Peter Pan at The Marlowe Theatre

If there is one thing the children love about Christmas, that isn't being allowed to eat chocolate for breakfast and tearing the wrapping from presents, it's a pantomime.

In fact, if there's one thing I love about Christmas, that isn't drinking fizz for breakfast and watching them rip the wrapping from their presents, it's a pantomime.

With a hefty dose of slapstick comedy for the little people, and an even bigger dose of jokes aimed solely at the grown-ups, the annual big production at The Marlowe Theatre is both one of our nearest and dearest.

But there is even greater excitement among the little people this year because playing the role of Tiger Lily in this year's Peter Pan is Swashbuckle and Cbeebies favourite Gemma Hunt.

The mum-of-one is leaving behind her television pirate cast of Cook and Line and Captain Captain, and her home in East Kent, to take on Captain Hook (Shaun Williamson) in Canterbury this Christmas.

Rehearsals are now underway for the staggering 90 shows Gemma and her fellow cast members will embark on from Friday, November 24.

During a break in those rehearsals and over a plate of gingerbread men, cupcakes and squash in The Marlowe's Green Room her credentials as a panto cast member, and more importantly as Tiger Lily, were thoroughly investigated by four little interviewers who wanted to know everything about being on television through to what her chosen superpower would be and which three Cbeebies characters would she most like to take on a desert island.

In a series of questions from the children about which she really thinks is best - Cbeebies television or a Marlowe pantomime (no pressure Canterbury!) - she admitted to looking forward to taking to the stage every day for some audience interaction away from the static television cameras and sometimes 'boring cameramen'.

"It's sometimes hard to find the energy to be entertaining" she explained.

"But having 1,200 people with all of those eyes, smiling, clapping and the energy is really helpful."

(And just in case you were wondering, after much consideration and lengthy debate around the table, her Swashbuckling duo of Cook and Line, Mr Tumble and some girlpower in the form of Katie from I Can Cook formed her chosen desert island trio. Which was all much to Oscar's disgust who felt the practical addition of Mister Maker to build a boat and row away was far more important and definitely a missed opportunity by Gemma and the girls.)

Dressed as pirates and Native Indian princesses my little crew also challenged her to their own Swashbuckle-style challenge - a round - or three - of the Crocodile Dentist game, in order to really road-test her ability as the stricken Princess Tiger Lily, to avoid the clock-ticking jaws of Neverland's croc this Christmas.

(Check out the video below to see how she fared!)

And while her crocodile befriending skills might need some work over the next fortnight Gemma, who took just three months off work when her daughter was born, is also now preparing to juggle the exhausting demands of those rehearsals, her pantomime role and that as a mum with a young family.

"Everybody else makes it happen," she said.

"I have so much respect for mums and children. It is hard."

She has plenty of praise for the support services offered to families in Kent, including children's centres and feeding support, as well as the county's vast offering of things-to-do and open spaces, telling us Samphire Hoe, between Dover and Folkestone, is one of her family's favourites.

Gemma is though somewhat of a pantomime veteran, with roles in Cinderella, Aladdin and four as Tinkerbell with other casts of Peter Pan under her pirate bandana.

Not to mention numerous parts in the popular Cbeebies pantomimes which are recorded in front of live audiences every autumn and broadcast on the children's channel over Christmas.

Although with a baby at home, Christmas creeping ever closer and almost two months of pantomime ahead of her - including three shows on each Saturday and two on Sundays- I'm starting to think her chosen superpower answer of "being able to fill people's hearts with love and happiness and joy" might possibly need replacing with something far more super-human in the coming weeks.

"Peter Pan?" she asks. "It's going to be fantastic."

To book your Peter Pan tickets telephone the box office on 01227 787787 or visit the website.