It’s been a busy year for Elin Llwyd. This time last year the former Pobol Y Cwm actress was starring in her first Riverfront Pantomime Robin Hood. Weeks later she was back on our TV screens presenting the S4C youth programme Tag. Elin’s now back at the Riverfront again in Beauty and The Beast and loving every moment.

“I’ve been lucky and quite busy” she tells me, “myself and Richard Elis has just finished filming the fourth series of Gwaith Cartref, basically before we started rehearsals for Beauty and The Beast. Richard likes to call it Groundhog Day because we seem to spend a lot of the time filming together and been in panto together” she laughs.

Elin plays the feisty but beautiful lead in Hiss and Boo’s latest panto presentation. “The amount of times I've told people what the panto is this year and they’ve returned with “oh are you playing The Beast?”, she laughs, “I reply with “No I'm actually playing Beauty” I feel awkward then!” she laughs “It’s quite nice really, who wouldn’t want to dress up in pretty dresses and have fun?”

Also returning to The Riverfront are long-time favourites Lee Mengo and Richard Elis, both of whom Elin has been friends with for many years: “Keeping a straight face while been on stage with Lee Mengo and Richard Elis is always a challenge in itself,” she laughs, “We always get on really well and there’s always that challenge for each other to see who corpses first.” Elin has also been adjusting to the roaring presence of her co-star Rob Vernon as The Beast, “The roaring which Rob does can be quite scary, so my reaction is genuine at the moment!”

Elin says of Beauty and The Beast “It’s such a lovely family show; we have such a good time on stage which we hope will translate to the audience. There’s great baddies, great comedy moments and some sweet moments it’s such a collaborative show and a lot of fun!”

I ask Elin if she’ll get a well-earned break after panto season, “Tag will be back on air by the end of January," she says, “last year I went to Singapore so I might try and fit in another holiday. Who knows with work?”

Beauty and The Beast Continues at The Riverfront until January 5. For full information on ticket prices visit https://nccsec.newport.gov.uk/tickets/ or call box office on (01633) 656757