A top ventriloquist and Cromer Pier favourite will be returning to the traditional seaside venue with a new show.

Steve Hewlett and Friends will be performed at the Pavilion Theatre on Sunday June 1 at 2.30pm.

Theatre goers will be entertained with popular characters including Pongo the skunk and Arthur Lager who is a cheeky old man constantly on the hunt for a wife.

New puppets in the show include little Simon Cowell and Sinitta, which made him one of the stand out acts on last year's Britain's Got Talent ITV programme.

Other new characters include Simon Cowell's new baby, Chii Chii the little blue dog and fictional television character Keith Lemon.

Steve, from Eastbourne, who first appeared on Cromer Pier in 2006, said: 'It is a nice mix. There are characters in the show for everybody.'

As well as being a regular at Cromer he has appeared at the Mundesley Festival in 2012 and last year.

He added: 'The audiences in Norfolk are lovely. I love Norfolk, I will probably end up here one day. It is like my second home.

'The Pavilion Theatre is one of the last end of the pier theatres. It is nice that people behind it are keeping it going and reinventing it. I love walking down the pier on a sunny day and seeing people eating fish and chips. It brings back my childhood. You can still go to Cromer for family entertainment.'

The ventriloquist, who has been performing his act for the past 27 years, writes his comedy routines with wife Nina, 34, based on their real life observations.

Steve, 39, is also inspired by his two-year-old daughter Lola.

He will be supported Wisbech magician and friend Richard Griffin.

The 39-year-old will be appearing on the BBC2 programme Eggheads tonight at 6pm.

He also hopes to take a show to the Edinburgh Fringe next year.

Tickets for the Cromer show cost £17 (£15 concessions). To book visit www.cromer-pier.com or call 01263 512495.