Harry Hill’s loving dig at the X-Factor, I Can’t Sing, has had our intrigue levels higher than Simon Cowell’s waistband since it was first revealed last year. Now, as it begins previews, we get our first view of the production.
Granted the peek is briefer than the music career of most X-Factor finalists, but it does reveal an Irish boy band which bear almost no resemblance to similar talent show contestants, a chorus of Vikings (as you do) and a first glimpse of central character Chenice’s talking dog Barlow, played by West End favourite Simon Lipkin.
The manipulated mongrel is, we think, the sidekick to Chenice (played by Cynthia Erivo), the starlet who doesn’t believe she has what it takes to make it to the top of the music industry, before being convinced to enter the gargantuan TV talent show.
After stalling due to technical issues, previews for I Can’t Sing at the London Palladium, which stars Nigel Harman as Simon, kicked off last week. It opens to the press on 26 March.