Cilla Black performed the opening ceremony at Aylesbury’s splendid Waterside Theatre a couple of months ago and is now back there starring in a heart-warming Cinderella that’s being promoted as “the UK's biggest and best £1m panto”.

It’s a description I see no reason to challenge. The show provides a glorious feast for the eyes and ears, with Cilla turning in a sensational performance as the Fairy Godmother — or rather, as it always comes over in her trademark Liverpool accent, the Furry Godmother. Yes, there are a lorra, lorra laughs about the way Cilla talks. About the way she looks, too, with the much-loved entertainer happily acknowledging that she is no spring chicken.

From my seat in the stalls, she still looks great, though, and her voice sounds as marvellous as ever. It is first heard on Step Inside Love, whose delicate treatment is in marked contrast to the belting approach she takes to her second No 1 song You’re My World. This develops into the trademark number of the evening, and we hear it three times.

Anyone Who Had a Heart, her first chart-topper, gets a powerful performance from the delightful Nicola Brazil, who plays Cinders. As the plangent song reaches its close, Cilla passes overhead on the Furry Godmother’s highwire waving a sign reading “This is my song”. Then she turns it round and we read: “Oh yes it is.”

But while Cilla gives great value for money, this Cinderella is far from being a one-woman show.

Chris Dennis and Nick Richards strut and preen as memorably horrible Ugly Sisters. They’re called Peaches and Pixie. Haven’t we heard those names before?

We later see them in a slightly different guise as a pair of sex-crazed slappers in a Blind Date session under Cilla that proves one of the evening’s highlights.

They are joined as contestants by Cinders's doting Buttons, the excellent Andy Collins, in drag as a fearful plain Jane. Choosing between their dubious delights is Billy Boyle’s Baron Hardup.

Gary Lucy, a one-time star of Hollyoaks and Footballers’ Wives, offers welcome eye-candy for the ladies as Prince Charming. There is a laddish appeal, too, in the well-judged performance of Richard Reynard as the prince’s right-hand-man Dandini.

This is a polished and good-looking production from First Family Entertainment. Director John Bishop and musical director Anthony England deserve our particular thanks.

Until December 30. Box office: 0844 871 7614 (www.ambassadortickets.com/ aylesbury).