Following a successful workshop in November, a new musical based on the life on American TV evangelist turned gay icon, Tammy Faye Bakker, is eyeing up a West End run later this year at the Almeida Theatre.

Writer James Graham is working with Elton John and Jake Shears from The Scissor Sisters on the project, which has been two years in the making. Following Elton John’s Farewell tour being cancelled, more time has been spent on the musical, hence the pre-production process has been accelerated.

Tammy Faye was an American Christian singer, evangelist, author, talk show hostess, and television personality. She found initial fame with televangelist programme The PTL Club in the mid 1970’s, which she co-founded with her husband Jim Bakker, and later had a career as a recording artist.

She was also known for her glamourous persona and was very forthright with her pro-LGBT views and her work with HIV/AIDS patients during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Watch this space, Besties!