There are certain criteria a pantomime needs to meet to be considered a success. Policing my checklist were four of the harshest critics I know; a grumpy toddler, a six and an eight-year-old and a grumpy boyfriend, who would definitely make sure that Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome was living up to expectations.

So what were we looking for? A great baddie – check. The Rat Queen lived up to all scary requirements and it was great for the lurking feminist in me to see a female baddie for a change! A singing fairy – check. Brenda Edwards, known for a brief appearance on The X Factor, appeared sporadically to narrate the story and belt out a few classic hits to get the audience clapping along.

A handsome hero and beautiful heroine – check. Ben Faulks (better known to the toddler especially as Mr Bloom from cBeebies) provided the dashing male lead with a surprisingly good singing voice. Tommy, his faithful cat, was played fantastically by Hayley Jane Goold. Using dance mixed with gymnastics, he especially enthralled my little boy, who loved the fight scenes with the bad rats. The female heroine was provided by Ashleigh and her dog Pudsey, of Britain’s Got Talent fame. Pudsey, not surprisingly, got most of the cheers!

What else? A pantomime dame, of course. This was ably provided by Eric Potts, who also wrote and directed the show, with his sidekick Idle Jack, the bumbling idiot, played as ever by Andy Ford, who has been in the role at Bristol for six years now.

Not that anyone was complaining – his jokes were as they should be and included double entendres for the adults and local jokes for the people of Bristol. I can’t see his light at the Christmas Panto going out anytime soon while he is still receiving the reaction that he does, and knowing how well he also performed last year he still manages to keep his act fresh and funny.

So far, everything we could require – and there was more. The 3D scene in the second act was great: at one point it scared my son so much that he jumped in his seat. The children all loved this, and felt they could reach out and touch the animals in it. The swimming scene really captured the attention.

With slapstick humour (the sausage scene had us nearly crying with laughter), glitter and romance, baddies and great sing alongs, Dick Whittington certainly deserved its standing ovation.