Weather Tonight: 2°c Mostly cloudy Morning: 5°c Cloudy

Showbiz

Life's a drag for new Hairspray star Phil Jupitus

London Lite
Updated 13:16pm on 2 Sep 2009


TV comic Phil Jupitus and Eighties pop singer Belinda Carlisle were unveiled today as the new stars of West End musical Hairspray.

Let us spray: Phill meets himself in Edna costume

The cross-dressing comedy is heading into the third year of its successful run at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Jupitus, team captain on BBC2's Never Mind The Buzzcocks, is in rehearsals for his turn as larger-than-life heroine Edna Turnblad, the part previously played by Michael Ball and Brian Conley.

Hair rasiing: Belinda Carlisle as Velma Von Tussle

The new-look line-up, which is due to begin performances on 26 October, also features Carlisle, who had a No 1 hit single in 1987 with Heaven Is A Place On Earth. She will take the stage as glamorous white supremacist Velma Von Tussle. Hairspray won four Olivier awards last year.

Reader views (2)

 Add your view

Musicals in London are really the best in the world. Congrats.

- João Paulo Chagas, Lisbon, Portugal, 04/09/2009 10:37
Report abuse

Brian Conley has only just taken over from Michael Ball - in a blaze of publicity across the media - I thought he was settling in for a long-ish run.

How come the multi-talentless Jupitus is taking over so soon?

- Jargonaut, South London, 02/09/2009 16:49
Report abuse


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • Lady Gaga reveals battle with bulimia Lady Gaga Lady Gaga used to make herself sick after eating family meals because she wanted to lose her "voluptuous" curves
  • Amy Childs tipped for return to TOWIE Amy Childs Amy Childs is set to make a shock return to The Only Way Is Essex
  • Holly Willoughby to host Surprise, Surprise Holly Willoughby Holly Willoughby is st to host a new series of Surprise, Surprise
  • Kris Humphries doesn't want money from Kim Kim Kardashian and Chris Humphries Kris Humphries doesn't want any of Kim Kardashian's fortune
  • My mum will be the judge, David Walliams tells Britain's Got Talent hopeful David Walliams and his mother Kathleen There was an addition to the Britain's Got Talent panel when judge David Walliams asked his mother's opinion on an act as she sat in the...
  • Simon Cowell wanted to keep Paula Abdul on US X Factor Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul Music mogul insists it wasn't his choice to have his former 'American Idol' co-judge removed from the panel
  • Final episode of Call The Midwife moved to avoid Coronation Street clash Call The Midwife Hit show has been shifted from its usual 8pm slot after ITV1 dropped an episode of Corrie into its Sunday night programming later this month
  • I've fallen for English sense of humour, says Birdsong heroine Clémence Poésy French actress Clémence Poésy - star of Birdsong - says she wants to work more in Britain after being seduced by the English sense of humour
  • Alesha Dixon stands up to Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent Alesha Dixon Judge Alesha Dixon shows she was not scared of show supremo Simon Cowell after branding one of his favourite performers a "pub" act
  • Christina Aguilera ready to reconcile with dad Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera thinks it is "time" to meet with her estranged father
  •