Musical star Jonathan Wilkes is to join the cast of cult musical Chicago as Billy Flynn for a strictly limited seven week season beginning next week.
The actor, singer and presenter will be joined by Sister Act’s Debbie Kurup, who reprises the role of Velma Kelly after first playing the most vampish of criminals in 2006.
By stepping into the shoes of the famously sleazy and corrupt lawyer Flynn, Wilkes will join a long list of West End stars and famous faces who have played the role over the show’s 14 year tenure in London, including Marti Pellow, Ian Kelsey, David Hasselhoff, John Barrowman and Jerry Springer.
Wilkes was last seen in the West End in The Rocky Horror Show and boasts numerous musical credits including tours of We Will Rock You, The Wedding Singer, Gospel, Grease and the Donmar Warehouse’s touring production of Guys And Dolls.
As well as his theatrical credits, Wilkes is a well known face on television presenting football programmes The Match, Soccer Aid and All Star Cup, and entertainment shows such as You’ve Been Framed. The actor is also a recording artist, having released an album and dueted with Robbie Williams.
Wilkes and Kurup will join the cast of Chicago at the Cambridge theatre from 9 May to 26 June. Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb’s Olivier Award winning musical is currently booking until 29 January 2012.
CM