Leading comedian, director and actor Mel Smith will make his West End debut in the musical Hairspray.
The 54-year-old, who starred alongside Griff Rhys Jones in the popular comedy sketch series Smith and Jones, will play Wilbur Turnblad.
West End legend Michael Ball will play the female role of Edna Turnblad, Wilbur's wife.
Leanne Jones, meanwhile, has been given the task of playing Tracy Turnblad, the main character in the show.
Set in 1962, the musical follows Tracy as she simultaneously pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.
Hairspray, which won eight Tony Awards when it debuted on Broadway in 2002, will open at London's Shaftesbury Theatre on October 11.
The Tony Awards are considered by many as the most prestigious prizes in US theatre.
Smith has directed films such The Tall Guy, Bean - The Ultimate Disaster Movie, High Heels and Low Lifes and Blackball.
In 1987, he even had a number five hit in the UK singles chart with Kim Wilde in aid of Comic Relief.
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