Reality TV star and big mouth Gemma Collins to join the cast of Chicago The Musical UK & Ireland tour

After weeks of speculation, producers of the UK & Ireland tour of Chicago The Musical have announced that TV star Gemma Collins is to join the cast.

Gemma Collins will star as Mama Morton in the tour, joining the show at the Sunderland Empire from 31 May 2022, and playing Cardiff New Theatre, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Sheffield Lyceum, Norwich Theatre Royal and New Theatre, Oxford.

Producer of the show, David Ian, said in a statement that: “We were completely stunned by Gemma’s audition for the role. She’s an undeniable force both on and off stage, and we can’t wait to see her portrayal of ‘Mama Morton’ on tour. Audiences across the country are in for a treat.”

Gemma Collins is famous for appearing in the reality series The Only Way Is Essex, and won Best Female Personality at the National Reality Television Awards in 2021. She has appeared in numerous TV shows including, I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and All Together Now, plus documentary Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me.

The rest of the Chicago cast includes Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’, Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’. The role of ‘Billy Flynn’ will be announced soon. The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.

Chicago is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb (Cabaret). The 1996 Broadway revival of Chicago was choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse, directed by Walter Bobbie, and produced by Barry and Fran Weissler.