A veteran pantomime actor and TV star celebrated his 67th birthday by guest editing a regional daily.

Former I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here winner Christopher Biggins joined the Nottingham Post on Wednesday to help out with editorial duties and tour the newspaper’s offices.

He is currently in Nottingham while starring in Aladdin at the city’s Theatre Royal.

Among the work he undertook for the Post was selecting his favourite five stories from the newslist to go onto yesterday’s front page.

From left: Post entertianments editor Simon Wilson, editor Mike Sassi and Christopher Biggins

He also decided to relegate a story about BBC reality show The Apprentice to the back of the paper due to his own personal dislike of the programme.

Post staff also presented the former star of TV shows including I, Claudius and Porridge with birthday presents of champagne and cake.

A piece by reporter Rachel Gorman on his visit reads: “During his stint in the top dog’s chair Biggins selected his favourite five stories from the newslist to go onto today’s front page.

“He loved the late night levy story – about plans to roll out the charge on bars for late hours – across the county, although he didn’t agree with it. But he decided to push our weekly Apprentice towards the back of the paper as he cannot stand the show.

“Afterwards the star toured the office – and few could have enjoyed a better reception – as he signed copies of the Post’s cookbook A Taste Of Nottinghamshire (allegedly for staff members’ mums and dads), learnt about the technology behind the live blog the paper had set up in his honour and posed for plenty of selfies.

“Before leaving in time for the matinee performance of Aladdin, Biggins thanked everyone for his bottle of bubbly and Ferrero Rocher-covered cake – apparently they are his favourites). And as he flung on his sparkling black scarf and left the building the office couldn’t help but feel just a little less fabulous.”