Kelly Brook, the model, actress and television presenter, will make her West End debut in Neil LaBute’s comic play Fat Pig. Brook is to replace Joanna Page as Jeannie in the plus-sized comedy from 13 October.
Brook, who was crowned the Sexiest Woman In The World by men’s magazine FHM in 2005, has most recently appeared in the BBC1 celebrity ballroom series Strictly Come Dancing, a competition in which she was performing well before withdrawing following the death of her father.
A former presenter of cult Channel 4 early morning show The Big Breakfast, Brook’s film appearances include Sorted, Deuce Bigelow: European Gigolo and The Italian Job. She has previously appeared on stage at the Riverside Studios in Eye Contact.
Fat Pig follows the relationship between Tom and Helen, who meet over lunch. Helen is a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be larger than average, and it is not long before the insults start to fly from Tom’s office buddies.
The UK premiere of Fat Pig opened at the Trafalgar Studio 1 on 27 May, with a cast including Kris Marshall, Robert Webb, Ella Smith and Page. Following its success at the Whitehall venue, the production transfers to the Comedy theatre from 11 September, with Marshall and Webb replaced by Kevin Bishop, whose sketch show The Kevin Bishop Show is currently broadcast by Channel 4, and Nathan Barley star Nicholas Burns.
Fat Pig playwright and director LaBute is enjoying a successful year in London. In addition to the continued success of Fat Pig, the European premiere of his play In A Dark Dark House, which stars Steven Mackintosh and David Morrissey, opens at the Almeida in November.
Speaking to Official London Theatre about working in the capital, LaBute said: “I’m very comfortable here and I admire the work that I see here. If I can have my work accepted here I’m very happy.”
MA