Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood to appear in the production of Annie at Southampton's Mayflower theatre

We can exclusively reveal that it is none-other than Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood!

Not one to pull any punches when it comes to speaking his mind, the ‘Mr Nasty’ of the hit BBC1 TV show will be stepping into the shoes of the horrendous Miss Hannigan to star in this exciting new production of Annie, which will be coming to the Mayflower Theatre from July 28 to August 1 as part of a yearlong tour.

Well-known for his acid tongued persona and some of the cattiest comments on Strictly, the awardwinning choreographer and performer should glide perfectly into the role.

He has an impressive theatrical CV to boot too.

His West End theatre credits include playing Munkustrap in Cats at the New London Theatre, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre, which took him to the US and Germany before re-creating the show for Susan Stroman in South Africa.

Other theatre credits in his native Australia include West Side Story, the Australian and New Zealand tour of The Danny La Rue Show; La Cage Aux Folles; Me and My Girl and Norman in the hit comedy play Ladies Night.

Produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian, audiences can expect a top-class offering of Annie.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, it tells the story of brave young Annie who is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.

Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search… With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs It’s a Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow.

Annie will be directed by Nikolai Foster.

Recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester, his most recent theatre credits include Calamity Jane, The Witches of Eastwick and the 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End.

Tickets for Annie, from Tuesday, July 28 to Saturday, August 1, are on sale from the Mayflower Theatre Box Office on 023 8071 1811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.

You can elso enjoy a meal at the Ovation Restaurant.

To book a table before the show, call 023 8071 1833.