KAY Mellor's smash hit Fat Friends The Musical will return to Southampton in 2022, starring Lee Mead.

Following a highly successful sell out tour in 2017/18 starring cricket star Freddie Flintoff, the show with original music Nicholas Lloyd Webber is back.

It comes to Mayflower Theatre from April 4 to 9 next year with further casting to be announced.

Based on the hit ITV show Fat Friends, that starred James Corden and Ruth Jones. Fat Friends - The Musical reunites our favourite foodie friends as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local slimming club, whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting into the wedding dress of her dreams. This show of hope, humour, love and weight loss, delivers a fun night out full of laughter.

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After a tough year for all, Kay Mellor feels that it’s the perfect time to bring the feel-good show back.

She told the Daily Echo: “Issues of body image and online trolling are more pertinent today than ever, and will resonate with people everywhere.

"Despite this, using song, dance and humour I can guarantee that audiences will leave the show with a smile on their face and feeling better about themselves – something we all need right now.

"I’m delighted to be remounting Fat Friends the Musical, thrilled to be working with the brilliant and talented Lee Mead and can’t wait for us to bring the show to so many fantastic venues around the UK and Ireland.”

Lee Mead is a much loved actor of stage and screen. Having won the nation's hearts when they voted him their Joseph in BBC One’s Any Dream Will Do, Lee has gone on to star in the West End in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde and Wicked before establishing himself as a TV favourite on Casualty and then Holby City.

Lee Mead added: “I am so excited to be returning to musical theatre after an enjoyable few years on Casualty and Holby City and I’m so thrilled to be starring in Fat Friends The Musical. I saw the show when it first ran and absolutely loved it, so I can’t wait to now play the lovelorn vicar, Paul. I’m so looking forward to performing live again to wonderful audiences around the country and working with the incredible and iconic Kay Mellor.”

Tickets are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 023 8071 1811.