Olivier award win for Yorkshire pantomime featuring Calderdale actor

Dick Whittington was performed in the London Palladium by a Scarborough-based family company earlier this year and featured an all-star cast including Julian Clary, Elaine Paige, Ashley Banjo and Diversity, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot and Charlie Stemp.

Read: Police probe blue laser aimed at helicopter in sky above CalderdaleSir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "What a night! It was fantastic to see Yorkshire's very own Dick Whittington win the 'Best Entertainment and Family' Olivier Award tonight. I'm thrilled for Nick Thomas, Michael Harrison and the incredibly talented team at Qdos Entertainment, in Scarborough, who have wowed audiences at London's famous Palladium with this fantastic show.

"Tonight's award is thoroughly well deserved and I know everyone, right across Yorkshire, will join me in sending them our huge congratulations! Welcome to Yorkshire has been honoured to partner with this wonderful production to showcase the county in London at the most famous theatre in the world."

Halifax actor Emma, who played the role of Alice Fitzwarren, shot to fame at just 18 when she created the role of Truly Scrumptious in the multi-million pound stage adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium opposite Michael Ball.

Read: Anti-social behaviour in Halifax's Piece Hall sparks witness appealSince then she has gone on to create further roles in original musicals such as Zorro, Love Story and Mrs Henderson Presents for which she received Olivier Award nominations.