PANTO fans who attend the Clyde Auditorium each year may be forgiven if they haven’t heard of Johnny Mac.

However, the comedy performer from Kilmarnock is set to appear in his sixteen panto.

At 36, he’s about to star alongside Marti Pellow in Aladdin at the Clyde Auditorium.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and I feel very lucky,” says the upcoming Wishee Washee.

“Yes, I feel a little trepidation at the idea of appearing before three thousand people.

“And you have to factor in the stars who have been appearing here. (In recent years the Krankies and John Barrowman have been a huge success.)

“But I feel confident about what I can do.”

Johnny Mac has every right to sound quietly confident. He has served his time in the panto trenches, working at the likes of the King’s In Edinburgh over the years and in hugely successful stints at the Pavilion in Glasgow.

“I love panto,” he says. “The first I ever did was in Belfast and it went well, and I stayed in Northern Ireland for a couple of years and then I went on to do a few down south.”

Johnny reveals he’s so keen to progress he tours the country watching pantos.

He’d been to see Marti in Birmingham before he knew he would be appearing alongside the singer from Clydebank.

“When I’ve finished my own panto stints I always go and do a tour of the ones that are still open,” he says.

“I’m a fan, but it also lets me do my homework, see what’s out there. So I’ll go to Bradford or Newcastle and see people I really rate such as Billy Pierce.

“He has been a great influence on my career. I’ve watched him over the years and he has funny bones.

“And the thing about panto is you have to keep it current. I have to keep on learning.”

Panto has been fun. “I’ve never done one single panto I haven’t enjoyed. And being a comic you get to be funny every day.”

He doesn’t feel the pressure at all? “No, that’s what rehearsals are for.”

When Johnny began to achieve panto success his family came to see him perform in the likes of Crewe.

“I can remember my sister coming down to see me,” he says, grinning.

“She said I was good, but I wasn’t worth the four hour train journey.”

That’s what you would expect from sisters. “Yes, but at least I’m in Glasgow now.

“And I’m excited to have a great production team behind me.

“This is a great show and so I’ve just got to add some of my own comedy routines, which I will tailor to the character.”

Does it matter if the principal character is a pop star?

“I think it helps. The profile Marti has with Wet Wet Wet will really bring people in.

“And when I saw him perform in Aladdin in Birmingham I was really impressed. He was fantastic.”

Johnny says he’s a Wets fan and is looking forward to working alongside the singer.

His aunties say they can’t wait to come along to the show. And my mother is such a big fan I may have to take out a restraining order on her,” he says, laughing.

Johnny Mac but was born to be a comedy performer, the typical class clown, the kid who would entertain the pupils and teachers.

At the age of 16, he was running his own discos and kids’ parties and when he left school Johnny McDonald became Johnny Mac, and took off to the sun to become a holiday Red Coat.

“I work in the summer seasons which have survived,” he says recalling stints in resorts such as Bournemouth and Great Yarmouth.

He’s s an old-style variety entertainer, an all-rounder who can tell gags, do impressions, perform sketches and act.

Johnny and comedy partner Liam Dolan are the pair behind the reprise of legendary Scots double act Francie and Josie, the tribute to Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy.

He also works the cruise ships.

“I really enjoy it,” he says. “I pick the ship up in Pisa and stay with them for a few days.

“It’s a little odd, because when you do a gig on dry land you go home, but on the ships you see the audience later in the band.

“But it works well.”

Johnny will be on a cruise ship in May of next year. But he won’t be working.

He and girlfriend Stephanie, whom he met while working at the Pavilion Theatre, are getting married in May.

“We’re getting married at Seamill Hydro and then we’re off to Florida where we’ll join a cruise ship for the honeymoon.”

Is there a chance he will appear on stage for an impromptu performance?

“It won’t happen,” he says, smiling. “The truth is I’m actually quite shy off stage.”

•Aladdin, the Clyde Auditorium, December 10 – December 31.