John Thomson, from TV’s Cold Feet and The Fast Show, will join the UK tour of Hairspray as Wilbur Turnblad this Christmas for three weeks at Blackpool Winter Gardens (December 13 to January 2).
In his first-ever musical theatre stage role, he will be joining musician, actress and television presenter Brenda Edwards, who has starred as Motormouth Maybelle since the tour opened in June as well as in previous runs of the tour.
West End leading man Alex Bourne continues in the role of Edna Turnblad.
Katie Brace makes her professional stage debut as Tracy Turnblad with Akeem Ellis-Hyman as Seaweed, Rebecca Thornhill as Velma, Richard Meek as Corny Collins, Ross Clifton as Link Larkin, Jessica Croll as Amber Von Tussle, Rebecca Jane Davies as Penny Pingleton and Charlotte St. Croix as Little Inez.
Hairspray had been due to begin performances in August 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic.
It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way to national TV. It’s based on the 1988 film, which starred Divine and Ricki Lake, by cult filmmaker John Waters.