TV3 BROADCASTER Alan Hughes and his civil partner and co-producer Karl Broderick have said they are “angered” and “very disappointed” that model Georgia Salpa has pulled out of their Christmas panto show.

The couple have just released a press statement. Better let the words speak for themselves:

The producers of The Cheerios Panto Sleeping Beauty have been informed that Georgia Salpa has pulled out of this years show at the Tivoli Theatre.

They are, of course, very disappointed. Georgia’s representative informed the producers that she feels she can no longer commit to the role. The producers have already been very accommodating to Georgia in her preparation for the role, that was specially written for her, and are angered at her sudden departure, which was beyond their control.

Georgia was to share the part of The Queen Kardashian in Sleeping Beauty with Michele McGrath and Michele has now taken on the role for the entire run. Producers say that fans of the panto, now in its 14th year, can look forward to what they consider to be their biggest and best panto to date.

Starring alongside one of Ireland’s top models Michele, will be Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh, RTE’s handsome Rob Ross and of course TV3′s Alan Hughes. Ireland’s latest boyband sensation ELEMENT will also be appearing in the glamorous production, written by Karl Broderick.

There has been no communication from Salpa’s side so far. When TheJournal.ie rang Salpa’s representative Andrea Roche, Roche commented: “No comment, no comment” and terminated the conversation. More as we know it on this riveting drama. Or not.

Update 14.08: Georgia Salpa has taken to Twitter to confirm that she’s “had to pull out of the Panto”. She doesn’t address the panto producers’ press release but tells us all that one of her “best pals” @MichelemcGrathx will be “amazing” in her role and that she has seen the rehearsals for the panto and Alan Hughes is hilarious in it. And that “Hopefully I can do it again in the future”.

(via @georgiasalpa/Twitter.com)