SOAP stars Sherrie Hewson, Jessica Ellis and Les Dennis will join West End star Lee Mead in Fat Friends The Musical, which is heading to Mayflower Theatre next spring.

Lee Mead is a much loved actor of stage and screen. Having won the nations 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 in the role of Lofty.

Sherrie Hewson is probably best known as Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street and Joyce Temple-Savage in Benidorm.

Jessica Ellis played Tegan Lomax in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks for five years.

Les Dennis most recently starred as Wilbur in Hairspray opposite Michael Ball at the London Coliseum. His many TV credits include Michael Rodwell in Coronation Street and a fictional version of himself in Extras.

Kay Mellor said: "I am thrilled with the amazing star cast we have assembled for our second outing of Fat FriendsThe Musical. Lee Mead and Jessica Ellis are fantastic performers and will be wonderful as Kevin and Kelly, and it’s great to be welcoming two iconic actors, Sherrie Hewson and Les Dennis who first worked together 40 years ago and are now reunited on stage."

This hugely entertaining musical toured the UK to a rapturous response from critics and sell out audiences in 2017 and 2018 and is based on the hit ITV show Fat Friends, which 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.

Full of hope, humour, love and weight loss, the show is at Mayflower Theatre from April 4 to 9 2022.

Tickets are on sale now.