Katie Price under fire from panto bosses and risks huge fine just one day into rehearsals
KATIE Price has come under fire from panto bosses just days into rehearsals.
The former glamour model, 46, will be starring in Cinderella at Northwich Memorial Court in Northwich, Cheshire, next month.
Katie and Kerry Katona, who met on I’m A Celeb in 2004, have taken on the role of the wicked step sisters in the panto production, which starts on December 8.
The pair and the rest of the cast have been busy practising for their opening night.
But the mum-of-five hasn’t been able to stop her vaping habit during rehearsals.
A source told us: “Katie has been caught vaping inside the venue on a number of occasions already.
“She has been told not to, but doesn’t seem to be listening.
“Kerry also vapes so they keep popping for breaks when they can – but Katie can’t resist a few cheeky puffs inside.”
The use of e-cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many places that allow you to vape, following some of the same rules as smoking.
When the smoking ban was introduced in 2007 it became illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces and in the workplace.
However this law does not include vapes.
Despite that, venues and organisations can make their own policies for the public to follow.
Vaping in music and sport venues, in airports or on a plane, while driving, in hospital or on public transport could land you a fine of up to £5000.
The laws surrounding vapes will be changing in 2025.
In October it was revealed that disposable vapes will be banned across the UK next year.
The new laws will prohibit their sale from June 1, 2025 to protect kids’ health.
Earlier this week Katie risked the wrath of panto bosses after snubbing a promo event.
The Atomic Kitten singer was spotted with her panto cast mates at the Northwich Christmas lights switch last weekend.
What are the new vape laws?
Ministers have pledged to crackdown on poorly regulated vapes and e-cigarettes following an explosion in the number of teenagers who use them.
New rules for manufacturers and shopkeepers are expected to come into force in late 2024 or early 2025.
They are set to include:
- Higher tax rates paid on vapes increase the price and make it harder for children to afford them
- A ban on single-use vapes in favour of devices that can be recharged
- A ban on colourful and cartoonish packaging that may appeal to youngsters
- Tighter controls on flavourings and a ban on unnecessarily sweet or child-friendly ones like bubblegum and candy
- More regulation on how and where they are displayed in shops, potentially putting them out of sight
- Harsher penalties for shops caught selling them to under-18s
The ban on disposable vapes is part of ambitious government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping.
A report published by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) last June found 20.5 per cent of children in the UK had tried vaping in 2023, up from 15.8 per cent in 2022 and 13.9 per cent in 2020.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also announced plans to impose a tax on imported e-cigs and manufacturers, making vapes more expensive.
The duty will apply to the liquid in vapes, with higher levels for products with more nicotine.
However Katie wasn’t in attendance.
A source told The Sun: “Katie said she had another work commitment so couldn’t attend but it didn’t go down that well with the rest of the cast and panto organisers.
“A lot of people had no idea why she wasn’t there and had been expecting her. They feel like she should have made it work as the Christmas light switch on was a big promo event to push ticket sales.”
When contacted by The Sun, a rep for Katie said: “Kate has work obligations and the team were made aware well in advance. She’s on her way up north to start rehearsals with Kerry.”
Katie revealed that she was working alongside Kerry back in May.
Speaking on her podcast, she said: “I’ve signed up for Cinderella and I’m one of the ugly sisters – and guess who is the ugly sister I’m doing it with – it’s Kerry Katona!
“So Kerry got me the gig because she has been working with them for six years.
“And she was like ‘why don’t you come and do this panto’, and she said it was for the ugly sisters and I said ‘oh are we ugly then?’ and she said we can still be really pretty.”
The dates for Cinderella are between 8th and 31st of December.