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CBeebies' favourite Katrina Bryan takes centre stage as Royal aide So Shi in the CBeebies Christmas Panto.

Here the Nina And The Neurons star talks about the magic of Christmas, spending the festive season in Scotland and giving Dermot O'Leary a peck under the mistletoe.

What can CBeebies' viewers expect from this year's panto?

Well there's lots of laughter and lots of fun. It's very colourful with brilliant songs. And viewers will get to see all their favourite characters from CBeebies.

It's great fun for all us CBeebies presenters to get together and the boys and girls at home will get to see us playing together and having fun too!

Tell us about So Shi.

So Shi is the best friend and companion of Princess Jasmine. She helps her choose all her pretty dresses and they tell each other everything. So Shi has a good heart and she can tell when someone's a good person. She sticks up for Aladdin because she can see he truly loves the Princess.

Can you describe your outfit?

Well, I wear fantastic shiny red leggings under a luxurious, blue wrapover dress and lovely glittery gold pumps. Of course I'm a member of the Royal party so my outfit has to be gorgeous.

So Shi is very girly. I imagine she and the Princess sit around braiding each other's hair and talking about boy bands all day long!

What do you like about pantomime?

I love panto, I've been involved with panto since the start of my career. It's the element of it that's pure joy. You're there to totally interact with the audience. They know that you're enjoying it and that makes it better for them. It's really unadulterated, unapologetic fun!

What is your first pantomime memory?

I remember seeing Cinderella at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow. I was about eight and I took one look at the principal girl – Cinderella – and I was just mesmerised by her gorgeous dresses and how beautiful she was. I was a little girl and I was watching panto and I was just her!

What are you doing for Christmas this year?

I'm not in panto this year, for the first time since my career started. My sister has young children and soon my niece is going to be beyond the age when she still finds Christmas magic and I just want to spend time with her and my little nephew. So I'm going to my home-town of Gatehouse-in-Fleet in Scotland and I'll be spending Christmas with my family and catching up with all my old friends. I'm not doing the cooking and I can't wait!

What is your best ever Christmas present?

Ooh, it must have been when I was just 12 or 13 and my mum and dad got me Take That tickets. And I was so excited because I hadn't thought I would be allowed to go.

Who would you most like to kiss under the mistletoe?

Hmm, well since we've been talking about Take That it might have to be Robbie Williams. No – Dermot O'Leary – I'd like to kiss Dermot O'Leary under the mistletoe!

Finally, what is your Christmas wish?

I wish that 2011 is as much fun as the last and that each year I get to try new and exciting things. And I wish that that all my family and friends are well and happy!