Jessie Wallace joins UK tour of Chicago

Jessie Wallace will replace X Factor winner Sam Bailey as Mama Morton in the UK tour of Chicago later this year.

Wallace, best known for playing Kat Slater in EastEnders joins fellow Walford alumnus John Partridge who plays Billy Flynn, in Nottingham from 15 August 2016.

The tour will then head to visit Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Bromley, Woking, Canterbury, Norwich, Leeds, Sunderland and Birmingham.

Also starring in the production is Hayley Tamaddon as Roxie Hart, Sophie Carmen-Jones as Velma Kelly, Neil Ditt as Amos Hart and AD Richardson as Mary Sunshine.

Based on real life events from the 1920s, Chicago follows nightclub singer Roxie Hart, double-murderess Velma Kelly and smooth talking lawyer Billy Flynn as they fight to keep Hart off death row after she shoots her lover.

With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the musical includes songs such as "All That Jazz", "Razzle Dazzle" and "Cell Block Tango".

Chicago is currently touring throughout the UK until 31 December 2016.