For a month in the West End

Jason Manford is to join the cast of West End musical Sweeney Todd.

He will take the role of Signor Pirelli – a rival barber to the title character – from July 2 to 27, while the role’s regular performer Robert Burt is on holiday.

Last year, Manford won ITV’s charity talent show Born To Shine, after learning how to sing opera, performing on national TV alongside 14-year-old chorister George Clark. And in 2009, he gave an improptu performance of Suddenly Seymour from Little Shop Of Horrors on the Jonathan Ross chat show.

Speaking to Ross this weekend, the musical's star Michael Ball said that many celebrities say they would like to be in musicals, but that very few go through with it, adding that Manford went through a 'proper audition' to get the role.

Published: 5 Mar 2012