Olympic Gold medallist and Dancing On Ice judge Robin Cousins will star as Billy Flynn in Chicago The Musical this summer, bringing a taste of the Olympic Games to the Garrick theatre.
Cousins will join the musical from 17 July, 10 days before the Olympic Games Open Ceremony, taking on the role of the celebrity lawyer until 8 September, the day before the Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
The professional skater and previous BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner took home a gold medal in 1980 at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. In 2000 he hung up his skates to become a full-time choreographer but by this time he had already made his theatrical debut a decade earlier in Cinderella On Ice. This was followed by roles in musicals Cats, The Rocky Horror Show and Grease.
The head judge for ITV’s ice-rink set talent show Dancing On Ice said he expected the role to be “an amazing experience”. The performer, who will also be mentoring the British synchronised swimming team during his run, added: “Doing the show at a time when the world’s best athletes are here for the greatest sporting event on earth will make it even more thrilling.”
Prior to Cousins’s Chicago debut, David Bedella has returned to the role of Billy Flynn and will play a limited season until 12 May. The Olivier Award-winning actor is joined in the cast by current stars Sarah Soetaert and Rachel McDowell as the criminal leading ladies and wannabe stars Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly.