Jason Manford News

We talk to Jon Robyns about taking on the iconic leading role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as well as his work as alternate Huey in Memphis!

A star-studded West End cast of over 50 principals, a 40-piece orchestra led by Gareth Valentine and an ensemble of more than 50, including a chorus from ArtsEd Musical Theatre, celebrated the songs and shows of Stephen Sondheim in HEY, OLD FRIENDS! An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Sunday 25 October.

At last, some of the cast has been revealed for the upcoming UK tour of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG! The Daily Mail writes that Martin Kemp (as the Childcatcher), Jason Manford (as Caractacus Potts thru April 24), Lee Mead (as Potts beginning May 4), Phill Jupitus and Michelle Collins will star in the show.

A star-studded West End cast of over 50 principals, a 40-piece orchestra led by Gareth Valentine and an ensemble of more than 50, including a chorus from ArtsEd Musical Theatre, will celebrate the songs and shows of Stephen Sondheim in HEY, OLD FRIENDS! An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Sunday 25 October.

Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits timid accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway's greatest scam. Together they aim to produce the worst show ever and run away to Rio with millions, but they soon learn that showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth.

The Producers, a Mel Brooks musical, has been a favourite of mine since I saw the Las Vegas production years ago starring David Hasselhoff - who was surprisingly good, I might add! The show had been condensed into an hour and a half straight through which worked well in my opinion. The musical was adapted from the 1968 film of the same name and opened on Broadway in 1991, receiving 12 Tony Awards - a massive achievement by any standard. The 2005 film version was also very enjoyable and starred original Broadway cast members Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway's greatest scam. Together they aim to produce the worst show in history and run away to Rio with millions, but they learn that Showbusiness can always find a way to kick you in the teeth. Featuring a riotous mix of eccentric characters and the all-time classic song 'Springtime For Hitler', The Producers is the funniest Broadway musical of all time

BBC AMERICA today announced it has acquired the Rose d'Or-winning and BAFTA-nominated comedy quiz show QI (Quite Interesting) hosted by Stephen Fry (Gosford Park, Bones) who can also be seen hosting The EE British Academy Film Awards on the channel this February.

Based on Mel Brooks' beloved Academy Award winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards; it opens its UK tour in March 2015.

We're flying Over the Rainbow with Songbird: The Music of Eva Cassidy (Sat 31 Jan), a celebration of the singer's greatest hits, before audiences flock to the Theatre Royal for the revival of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird (Tue 3 - Sat 7 Feb). Rooster tops the bill in an outstanding programme from prestigious dance company Rambert (Thu 5 - Sat 7 Mar) - it's sure to be a hoot with choreography inspired by the swinging sixties.

Following 14 sell-out worldwide tours, award-winning comedian and king of improvisational comedy Ross Noble will make his musical theatre debut in the 2015 UK Tour of The Producers.

Renowned dancer, choreographer and television personality Louie Spence will join award-winning comedian Jason Manford in the brand new UK Tour of The Producers.

Award winning comedian Jason Manford will star in a brand new UK Tour of The Producers. Based on Mel Brooks' beloved Academy Award winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards; it opens its UK tour in March 2015.

Big Difference Productions, creators of innovative comedy events and concepts and organisers of the annual Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, today announced its programme of events for this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. From seasoned stand-ups showing that life experience breeds laughs, expert analysis on comedy and contemporary culture, and unbridled laughter with the lights off, the shows provide a unique flavour of comedy.

Sweeney Todd the Musical just posted a new picture of Jason Manford in rehearsal for the West End production on its Facebook page. See the photo of Manford below!

Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd, stars Olivier Award winner Michael Ball as the infamous demon barber of Fleet Street and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton as his devoted accomplice Mrs. Lovett. Following sell-out success at Chichester Festival Theatre, the production transferred to London's West End on 10 March, 2012 for a limited season only, and must end on 22 September, 2012. Comedian Jason Manford will join the company as "Italian" barber Pirelli for four weeks in July this year, covering for Robert Burt, who is scheduled to sing at Glyndebourne Festival 2012.

The West-End production of SWEENEY TODD, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, will officially open tonight, March 20, at the Adelphi Theatre. As Broadway World previously reported, Jonathan Kent's version of the musical opened in the West End for previews on March 10 following its sell-out success at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The show will feature British comedian Jason Manford as Signor Pirelli for one month while Robert Burt is on leave.

British comedian Jason Manford is to play Signor Pirelli in Jonathan Kent's West-End production of SWEENY TODD. Actor Michael Ball, who stars as Todd in the show, revealed on the Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday evening that Jason Manford will be taking the role while Robert Burt, who is currently playing the part, is on leave.

Guests at Jonathan Ross and Jane Goldman's annual Halloween extravaganza at their London home.

September 12 was the Help the Heroes COncert 2010 held at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Among the performers were Alexandra Burke, Tom Jones, Plan B, and Pixie Lott. Broadwayworld brings you coverage of the concert below.