North East actress Victoria Elliott is to play one of the leads in the new X Factor musical, I Can't Sing! She takes the part of pop queen Jordy (who might just remind audiences of Cheryl Cole!), one of the X Factor judges, alongside Nigel Harman (Simon) and Alex Knight (Louis).
The musical, with music and lyrics by Steve Brown and book and additional lyrics by Harry Hill, begins previews at the London Palladium on 27 February and opens on 26 March.
Newcastle-born Elliott's theatre credits include: 13.1, Jump, Me and Cilla, A Nightingale Sang in Eldon Square, Lush Life, First Draft and Tyne (at Live Theatre); Two and As You Like It (at the Royal Exchange, Manchester); Oh What a Lovely War!, Wind in the Willows, Hansel and Gretel and Pub Quiz (at Northern Stage) and Cooking with Elvis (for Hull Truck).
Her television credits include: Truckers (BBC/Company Pictures), The Ministry of Curious Stuff (BBC), Holby City (BBC), Emmerdale (ITV), 55 Degrees North (BBC/Zenith), Steel River Blues (Granada) and, most recently bosth series of Hebburn (BBC/BabyCow/Channel X).
She appeared in the recent Royal Variety Show as part of the cast of a preview of I Can't Sing!
"I am absolutely made up to be playing the part of Jordy in I Can't Sing!," she said. "I've always been a massive fan of Harry Hill and Steve Brown has been involved in making some of my favourite comedy, they're a couple of legends, so it's a real privilege to see them at graft every day.
"I was lucky enough to be involved in the development of the show and it's been very exciting to see it grow into the kick-ass comedy rock monster it has become. And to be performing at the Palladium is simultaneously thrilling and absolutely terrifying. My Dad's absolutely buzzing, obviously—apparently everyone used to go there on a Sunday night or something!
"Jordy is a brilliant character, I love her. All little girls in the North East grow up longing to become an internationally renowned, pampered pop diva, and now it seems my time has finally come—because I'm worth it!"