DAVID Hasselfhoff fans are reeling from the news that their hero will no longer make his much-anticipated appearance at New Wimbledon Theatre.

The Hoff was scheduled to star as Captain Hook in the Christmas pantomime Peter Pan alongside Bobby Davro as Smee but has pulled out because of conflicting dates with a TV commitment in the US.

Now, instead of wowing audiences in the intimate setting of New Wimbledon Theatre, the Baywatch hunk will appear as a judge in Simon Cowell's new game show America's Got Talent, which premieres in the US on June 21.

On his official web site, Hasselhoff says: "I know many of you were looking forward to a trip to London to see me and I'm sorry to disappoint you. Let's see what awaits around the corner."

The hunt is now on to find another major star to fill Hasselhoff's shoes.

A spokeswoman from First Family Entertainment, the producers of the pantomime, said: We are obviously disappointed that David Hasselhoff cannot play Captain Hook in the Wimbledon Theatre's pantomime this year, however we appreciate that his TV commitments in America make it impossible to be in the UK at Christmas.

"We wish him well and are currently in the process of casting a popular personality to star in the production and look forward to announcing this in the next few weeks.' Although his music has long been popular in Austria and Germany, Hasselhoff's profile in the UK took a huge upward turn when he starred in a West End production of Chicago in 2004.

Now there are calls to make his pop career as successful on this side of the channel as it is in Europe. An online campaign called "Get Hasselhoff to Number One" aims to get 75,000 fans to promise to buy his next single to ensure it tops the UK charts.

And a starring role in a pantomime so close to home could have driven Hoff fever to dizzy new heights.

Hasselhoff fan Rosie Gray, 25, from Southfields, said: "I feel really let down. A big group of us were planning on going to the pantomime to see him. I saw him in Chicago and he was great. He was also much more attractive in the flesh than I imagined. I was really looking forward to seeing him again, especially at a local theatre. I'm sure his US show will reach a much wider audience, but he's let down his UK fans."

What do you think? Who can possibly replace the Hoff? Should he honour his commitment? Email ahepworth@london.newsquest.co.uk.