'It's a dream come true'

Peter Kay is joining the cast of the smash hit Mel Brooks musical The Producers - after using his autobiography to ask for a role.

He will play Roger DeBris, the camp director hired by producers Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom to stage the flop musical Springtime For Hitler.

The 33-year-old Bolton-born comic has long been a fan of the 1968 film, and in his book The Sound Of Laughter, he mentions that he wanted to appear in The Producers musical ever since seeing it.

He will be in the touring show for the three months it is in Manchester in February next year.

Speaking on Michael Parkinson's show that airs on Saturday night, Kay said: "I'm doing Mel Brooks's The Producers, which has always been my favourite film.

'I'm playing Roger DeBris who is the gay director, which is just fantastic, I can't wait. I'm doing it in Manchester and it's brilliant because I can see the theatre from the roof of my house, so I can be there in 20 minutes.'

'It's just a dream come true and to do it so close to home, it's just brilliant, it's a great opportunity.'

In his autobiography, Kay broke off from tales of his young life to tell readers he'd recently enjoyed The Producers musical, writing: 'The funny thing it is actually surpassed the original film for me. Maybe I might get a chance to be in it one day... who knows?'

Kay told Parkinson's ITV1 chat show that he had no plans to take his act to the US, adding: 'I've never been keen on America - the only thing I like about it is when I'm over there I feel practically bulimic. Honestly, you think I'm fat, it's like It's A Knockout over there.'

Click here to buy tickets for The Producers on tour.

Published: 10 Nov 2006