Exclusive: New casting announced for UK tour of Our House

Deena Payne, best known for playing Viv Hope in Emmerdale, will take over the role of Kath Casey in the UK tour of Madness musical Our House.

Payne replaces the previously announced Linda Nolan who has withdrawn from the tour due to ill health. Her theatre credits include Calendar Girls, Cabaret and the original West End production of They're Playing Our Song.

The cast will also include Jason Kajdi (Mary Poppins) as Joe Casey and Sophie Matthew (Channel 4's Humans) as Sarah.

On the announcement, Payne said: "My thoughts are with Linda, and we all send her lots of love at this very unsettling time. I know she’d want the madness to continue, and I’m thrilled to take on the challenge."

Based on the songs of '80s chart-toppers Madness, Our House premiered in 2002 and won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. It has a book by Tim Firth, whose musical The Girls is currently playing at the Phoenix Theatre.

The tour, which opens in Crewe in August, will be directed by James Tobias and choreographed by Fabian Aloise.

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Our House runs at Crewe Lyceum from 10 to 12 August, and then tours to Sheffield, Llandudno, Weston-super-Mare, Skegness, Malvern, Hastings, Swansea, Blackpool, Bridlington, Bromley, Portsmouth, Coventry, Weymouth and High Wycombe.