Further star casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of Kay Mellor’s smash hit Fat Friends - The Musical, which opens at Dartford Orchard Theatre on 14 January 2022.

Joining the previously announced Lee Mead as ‘Kevin’ will be Sherrie Hewson (Coronation Street, Benidorm) as ‘Julia’, Jessica Ellis (Hollyoaks) as ‘Kelly’ and Les Dennis (Coronation Street) as ‘Fergus’. Marc Akinfolarin also joins the cast as ‘Alan’, with Alex–May Roberts as ‘Val’. Further casting to be announced soon.

Kay Mellor said: “I am thrilled with the amazing star cast we have assembled for our second outing of Fat Friends - The Musical. Lee Mead and Jessica Ellis are fantastic performers and will be wonderful as Kevin and Kelly, and it’s great to be welcoming two iconic actors, Sherrie Hewson and Les Dennis who first worked together 40 years ago and are now reunited on stage.”

This hugely entertaining musical toured the UK to a rapturous response from critics and sell out audiences in 2017 and is based on the hit ITV show Fat Friends, that starred James Corden and Ruth Jones. Fat Friends - The Musical reunites our favourite foodie friends as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local slimming club, whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams. Full of hope, humour, love and weight loss, the show delivers a tasty treat of fun and laughter and encourages us all, as the final song sings, to Love Who You Are!  

Fat Friends - The Musical is created, directed and has a book and lyrics by the multi award winning Kay Mellor, with original music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, set and costume design by Bretta Gerecke, choreography by Karen Bruce, sound by Ben Harrison, lighting by Nick Richings, and orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision by Simon Lee.

For more information and to book tickets for select venues, please click here.