PUPILS at school in Clacton got an assembly with a difference as former Corrie star Charlie Condou turned up to test out his panto talents.

Charlie visited Holland Park Primary School with members of the cast to take questions from the young audience.

Eight-year-old Callum Byrne asked Charlie to sing a song, but the tables were turned on him when he was pulled out to sing in front of classmates.

There was plenty of cheering, clapping, booing and hissing as the cast got the pupils warmed up for their up- coming visit to the panto at the Princes Theatre.

“I think they got a taste of what they will see when they come to the show, ” said Charlie.

“If they are as loud as that on the day we will all be in for a good time.

“It was great to see their smiling faces and hear them singing along – it was a pleasure to go to the school."

Headteacher Antony Welch also got a surprise with a peck on the cheek from Simple Simon’s mum, the ravishing Dame Tr ott.

Read our feature with Charlie Condou in the Clacton Gazette, out now.