Baby Will Not Disrupt Holden’s Shrek Schedule???

With previews for the West End transfer of Shrek The Musical kicking off at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 May 2011 prior to the show’s opening night a month later on 7 June it would appear we weren’t the only people surprised to hear that the production’s Princess Fiona, Amanda Holden announce she is six months pregnant, expecting her second child with record producer husband Chris Hughes in March. Holden, who is also a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, does not plan to take any time off when the baby is born, with producers saying they were reworking rehearsal schedules and that she will not miss a single performance. Caro Newling of Neal Street Productions said in a statement they would allow Holden “the time she needs”, adding that “knowing how much this means to Amanda and her family” she and the whole Shrek team were thrilled with the “unexpected good news”.

Holden, who plays the green Princess alongside Nigel Lindsay (Shrek), Nigel Harman (Lord Farquaad) and Richard Blackwood (Donkey) is no stranger to the musical stage, having been nominated for an Olivier Award in the title role in the West End production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2003. Although not planning to miss any performances because of her family’s new arrival, Holden will still be absent from the stage for her pre-arranged commitments to Britain’s Got Talent, missing seven shows in the week beginning 30 May 2011. Who will be understudying for her, along with the rest of the cast is to be announced soon.