Leanne Campbell spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview ahead of her role as The Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella pantomime at The Epstein Theatre
Leanne Campbell spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview ahead of her role as the Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella pantomime(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Leanne Campbell is ending the year in style. The popular presenter has had a rollercoaster 2025 after her regional Hits Radio Breakfast show came to an end in June.
However, the broadcaster has embraced the freedom that has come in the next chapter of her career as she has had whole host of presenting jobs, launched a daily podcast with former co-host, Dave Kelly, and is about to return to the stage to play the Fairy Godmother in the Cinderella pantomime at the Epstein Theatre. Leanne spoke to the ECHO at the press launch yesterday to kickstart her jampacked festive schedule and said she couldn’t be more delighted with how 2025 has panned out.
She said: “[Apart from Christmas Day] I haven’t got a day off now until in January 9. There’s just so many avenues. I didn’t believe this until I actually went, ‘I’m living this’. Next year there’ll be jobs that exist that you didn’t even know existed.
“It’s about always looking for the next thing and upskilling. Trying your best at everything you do. I’ve ended this year better than I started it and I don’t know how that’s happened.
“But I’m hoping next year I’ll be just as lucky as I have been this year.” Leanne, who was born in Walton and grew up in Bootle, puts down her determination to her Scouse upbringing as the city instils people with an ambitious outlook.
She said: “With Liverpool people, all we know how to do is reach for the stars. It’s in our DNA. People tell you that you can’t do something and we’ll say, well I’ll have a really good go.”
Leanne added: “There’s nothing like Scouse support. I think on Twitter they call it the Scouse mafia, I just think we love to see people doing good and I’m really grateful for anyone who has ever supported me.”
She continued: “In an industry, which is very male dominated, Liverpool cheered me on whether it was radio, or theatre. Supported me through everything. Same with theatre.”
Leanne pointed to her surroundings in the Epstein Theatre as the perfect example of this as the historic venue has been reopened this year. She said: “This theatre [was supposedly] done, the doors were closed and [people had said] there’s no use for it. Hang on a minute, in comes a Scouser, gets those doors open. Not just as it was, but better than it’s ever been. Then throws on a massive big cast ready for panto season.”
Leanne will be joined on stage at the Epstein Theatre this festive season by former Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn, who plays Cinderella, and BBC Radio Merseyside breakfast host, Kevin Duala, who plays Buttons. The play is being performed from December 5 – January 4 2026 – and Leanne is honoured to be part of the first pantomime since the reopening.
Coronation Street’s Katie McGlynn as Cinderella(centre),with Kevin Duala as Buttons and Leanne Campbell as The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
She said: “We’re the first panto to tread the boards, so hopefully we’re paving the way for many more years of great shows and great entertainment in one of our favourite venues.”
It’s a full circle moment for Leanne as it was in this very theatre when she was introduced to pantomime for a performance of the Wizard of Oz. She added: “I was about 6 and I cried my eyes out. I hated it, I was terrified and I left, but weirdly, it sort of ignited this love for theatre.
“It was this fear of it like a horror film. I hated it but I loved it.” Leanne is now a staple of the pantomime season and said the identity of the city she loves is what makes the shows so special.
She said: “The thing that makes a winning pantomime is allowing that Scouse humour to shine through. Even if you’re not from Liverpool, but you’re part of the company. You’ve got to have faith that even though you don’t understand what they’re saying or the words that they’re using, roll with it because the audience will know and they will thank you for it.
“It’s so Scouse this panto, it’s off the scale. I just think people are going to walk out and want to come back again. I do think, based on the people in the cast because everyone is a bit of a wildcard, every show is going to be a bit different. You might want to come more than once.”
The Cinderella pantomime is on at the Epstein Theatre from December 5 – January 4, 2026. You can find details on how to get tickets here