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Nigel Planer in Hairspray?

Posted by Jack on Tuesday 16th December 2008 at 9:44AM

Nigel Planer, star of We Will Rock You and Wicked is rumoured to be joining the cast of Hairspray next month. Probably best known as depressed hippy Neil in the anarchic 1980’s sitcom The Young Ones, Planer’s other television credits have included the series Shine on Harvey Moon, French and Saunders, Blackadder the Third, The Grimleys and Filthy, Rich & Catflap.
Having had some novelty music success in the early 1980’s as Neil and with spoof rock band Bad News alongside Young Ones co-stars Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, Planer had made his first foray into musical theatre in 1978, understudying David Essex as Che in the original London production of Evita. In 1997, he played Amos Hart in Chicago at the Adelphi and originated the role of Pop in We Will Rock You in 2002 and from September 2006 to June 2008, he played the Wizard in the spectacular Wicked (left with Kerry Ellis as Elphaba), his longest running theatre role to date.
Nigel Planer (the Wizard) and Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) in Wicked
It is reported that Nigel Planer will be taking on the role of Wilbur Turnblad in January, taking over from Ian Talbot. Nothing is confirmed as yet but if it turnsout to be true, remember you heard it here first. If not, just ignore us.

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