The X Factor’s Marcus Collins will join stars Mark Benton and Lucy Benjamin on Hairspray’s forthcoming UK and Ireland tour, which opens at The Lowry from February 11-23.
Collins will play Seaweed Stubbs, one of the coolest kids at Patterson Park High, son of DJ Motormouth Maybelle and love interest of Penny Pingleton.
He joins previously announced Benton as larger than life Edna Turnblad, Benjamin as scheming TV executive Velma Von Tussle and newcomer Freya Sutton as big-hearted, big-haired teen heroine Tracy Turnblad.
Liverpool born and bred, Collins rose to fame on ITV1’s 2011 season of The X Factor. Mentored by music legend Gary Barlow and hugely popular throughout the series, Marcus eventually finished as runner up.