Rachel Tucker is the latest star of reality casting programme I’d Do Anything to land a role in the West End. She makes her debut as Meat in Queen musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion from 22 September.
Tucker, from Belfast, came fourth in the BBC show to cast the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver! at the Drury Lane this autumn, missing out to eventual winner Jodie Prenger. Though We Will Rock You marks Tucker’s West End debut, the 26-year-old, who trained at the Royal Academy Of Music, has previously appeared in UK tours of The Full Monty, Tommy and Tonight’s The Night, and has several credits in her native Belfast.
The musical We Will Rock You has been running at the Dominion for over six years. Written by Ben Elton, its storyline is set in a futuristic world where rock music is banned. As the rebels hit back against globalisation, the scene is set for a string of hits by rock legends Queen, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Radio Ga Ga and the title track.
Tucker takes over the role of Meat from Lucy Sinclair and will join the show’s longest serving cast member, Mazz Murray, who continues to play Killer Queen after making her debut in the role over four years ago.
Tucker is not the only contestant from I’d Do Anything to follow her appearance on television with a West End role. Amy Booth-Steel joined the cast of short-lived musical All Bob’s Women at the Arts theatre in June and will shortly be seen in The Sound Of Music.
Niamh Perry, another I’d Do Anything competitor, is to star in new musical Only The Brave at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer, opposite Keith Jack, who was the runner-up to Lee Mead in the BBC’s 2007 search for a Joseph, Any Dream Will Do.
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