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Melanie C & Chris Moyles
Melanie C & Chris Moyles

Chris Moyles & Mel C join Tim Minchin in Superstar

Date: 16 May 2012

Chris Moyles and Melanie C have joined Tim Minchin in the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, which launches its first ever UK arena tour at London’s O2 Arena on 21 September 2012.

The role of Jesus will be cast via ITV’s forthcoming primetime show Superstar, which will give the UK public the chance to decide who will play the starring role, with a panel of judges led by the show’s composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

As previously announced, comedian Tim Minchin - the co-writer of Whatsonstage.com Award-winning musical Matilda - will play Judas Iscariot.


We're thrilled to have such great talent in the cast for the new show - they are all true ambassadors of UK entertainment
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Spice Girl Melanie C, who was nominated for both an Olivier and Whatsonstage.com Award for Blood Brothers, will take the only female lead as Mary Magdalene, while BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles makes his major stage debut as King Herod.

Announcing the latest casting, Lloyd Webber said: “Tim (Rice) and I have always wanted to take Superstar back to its roots and we are both delighted that it will finally play an arena tour in the UK in venues where many of the world’s great rock acts have gone before.  We’re thrilled to have such great talent in the cast for the new show – they are all true ambassadors of UK entertainment. The re-mastered album sounds fantastic and we hope that fans both old and new will enjoy it.”

Melanie C said: “I have been lucky enough to perform at  arenas across the globe and to star in London’s West End but taking on the role of Mary Magdalene in the incredible Jesus Christ Superstar has to be one my most exciting challenges to date. I can’t wait to take the show to some of my favourite venues in the UK with such a talented and formidable cast including Tim and Chris.”

The tour kicks off at London’s O2 Arena on 21 September, before visiting: Glasgow SECC (25 September), Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (28 September), Manchester Arena (30 September), Cardiff Motorpoint (2 October), Birmingham NIA (4 October), Belfast Odyssey (9 October), Dublin O2 (12 October), Liverpool Echo Arena (16 October) and Sheffield Motorpoint (21 October).

Tickets for the UK tour priced £45-65 go on sale at 9.00am on Friday 18 May.

The last major London production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which tells of the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus, was at the Lyceum Theatre in 1997. The show includes hits such as “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”, “Gethsemane” and “Superstar”, and has proved one of the most popular of the Lloyd Webber/Rice collaborations.

- by Theo Bosanquet

Related Content

Jesus Christ Superstar Listing Page
Internal Links
Minchin makes another musical debut as Judas in Superstar - 8th May 2012 News
Lloyd Webber & ITV team up to search for Superstar - 18th Jan 2012 News
Mel C Makes West End Debut in Blood Brothers - 8th Sep 2009 News
Review Round-up: Are Forster, Minchin, Moyles & Mel C Superstars? - 24th Sep 2012 roundup
Jesus Christ Superstar starstarstarstar - 24th Sep 2012 reviews
1st Night Photos: Lloyd Webber praises cast at Superstar premiere - 22nd Sep 2012 photos
WOS TV: Behind the scenes with Jesus Christ Superstar - 20th Sep 2012 tv
Superstar Update Mel C, on Playing a Modern Day Mary - 12th Sep 2012 interviews
Superstar Update Ben Forster, Living the Dream - 7th Sep 2012 interviews
You could still be Jesus – and Judas - 28th Aug 2012 features
Full casting announced for JCS tour, Hanson plays Pilate - 22nd Aug 2012 news
Superstar Interviews -The Winner: Ben Forster - 6th Aug 2012 interviews
Superstar Interviews: Rory Taylor - 30th Jul 2012 interviews
Superstar Interviews: Roger Wright - 29th Jul 2012 interviews
Ben Forster wins ITV's Superstar to play arena Jesus - 26th Jul 2012 news
Superstar Interviews: David Hunter - 26th Jul 2012 interviews
Are there really 'few leading men' in the West End? - 25th Jul 2012 features
Superstar Interviews: Jeff Anderson - 25th Jul 2012 interviews
Superstar Interviews: Jon Moses - 25th Jul 2012 interviews
Superstar blog: Semi-final time - 24th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: Tweetgate - 24th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar Interviews: Tim Prottey-Jones - 24th Jul 2012 interviews
Mel C spices up charts with Superstar showtune? - 23rd Jul 2012 gossip
Superstar Interviews: Niall Sheehy - 23rd Jul 2012 interviews
Superstar Interviews: Dirk Johnston - 23rd Jul 2012 interviews
Superstar blog: You nailed it - 21st Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: Who does the Lord want? - 20th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: Another one bites the dust - 19th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: The second evictee - 18th Jul 2012 blog
Matinee performance added for Superstar at the O2 Arena - 17th Jul 2012 news
Superstar blog: The first exit - 17th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: First live show - 16th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: The final ten - 14th Jul 2012 blog
Jesus: Have you checked out the new Superstar app? - 9th Jul 2012 gossip
Superstar blog: Episode two - the island - 8th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: Opening show auditions - 7th Jul 2012 blog
Superstar blog: The search for Jesus Christ is almost complete - 1st Jul 2012 blog
Lloyd Webber's Superstar confirms first broadcast, 7 Jul - 28th Jun 2012 news
First Superstar UK tour to play in Newcastle - 20th May 2012 news
Superstar blog: Jesus Christ & other miscasting - 17th May 2012 blog
Minchin makes another musical debut as Judas in Superstar - 8th May 2012 news
Dawn French returns to pious performance with Superstar? - 17th Apr 2012 gossip
Will Amanda Holden host ITV's search for a Jesus Christ Superstar? - 28th Mar 2012 gossip
Lloyd Webber & ITV team up to search for Superstar - 18th Jan 2012 news
Lloyd Webber Readies Jesus Christ Superstar for World Arena Tour??? - 10th Mar 2011 gossip

External Links
BUY JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR ARENA TOUR TICKETS VIA TIMEOUT.COM!


Reader Comments


CommentDate
Couldn't agree more. Surely alleged homophobia and anti-semitism couldn't be the credentials for casting this Herod. It certainly can't be talent. - coral

17 May 12

Do the casting people really think the public want to watch a talentless DJ in a musical. When there are dozens of talented out of work actors there is no excuse for them to be overlooked. Get real please give us actors who have been through the performing arts path to acting - Bumsonseats

16 May 12


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