Shane Richie will be returning to the West End in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie following his stint on the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity.
The former EastEnders actor, 56, will resume his role as Hugo and the character’s drag queen alter ego Loco Chanelle on 5 January 2021.
It comes amid claims that Shane has been ‘inundated with extraordinary work offers’ after impressing on I’m A Celebrity, he was eliminated on Thursday’s episode.
Exciting: Shane Richie will be returning to the West End in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie following his stint on the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity
Talking about resuming his role on Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, he played the character in 2019 and went on a UK tour earlier this year, Shane said he was excited.
He revealed: ‘I can’t wait to swap my castle walking boots for a pair of high heels and return to Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as Hugo / Loco Chanelle in January.
‘After 2020 we could all do with little bit of glitter in the grey and having been with Jamie both in the West End and on UK Tour it’s going to be a fabulous way to start the New Year.’
While producer, Nica Burns, added: ‘We are delighted that Shane Richie is returning to sprinkle his special star dust on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle. What a treat!’
Amazing! The former EastEnders actor, 56, will resume his role as Hugo and the character’s drag queen alter ego Loco Chanelle on 5 January 2021 (pictured with former EastEnders co-star Jessie Wallace in 2019)
The musical, which is returning to the Apollo Theatre with social distancing on 12 December, follows Jamie New, who is 16 and doesn’t quite fit in, with the teenager set on becoming a drag queen instead of pursuing a ‘real’ career.
Uncertain about his future, Jamie knows one thing for sure – that he is going to be a performing sensation.
Supported by his loving mum and his amazing friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
The musical was originally staged at The Crucible in Sheffield in 2017 before moving to London’s West End later that year with most of the original cast returning.
Excitement: Talking about resuming his role on Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, he played the character in 2019 and went on a UK tour earlier this year, Shane said he was excited
Nominated for five Laurence Olivier Awards in 2018, the production won Best New Musical that year at the WhatsOnStage Awards.
In October, a trailer of the hotly-anticipated film adaption of the musical was released with Richard E. Grant playing Shane’s Hugo/ Loco Chanelle character.
The movie also stars Catastrophe co-creator and star Sharon Horgan as Jamie’s teacher Miss Hedge while Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire will appear as his mother, Margaret.
Shane was booted from Gwrych Castle, North Wales, on Thursday night – leaving Vernon Kay, Giovanna Fletcher, and Jordan North as this year’s three I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! finalists.
All dolled up: In October, a trailer of the hotly-anticipated film adaption of the musical was released with Richard E. Grant playing Shane’s Hugo/ Loco Chanelle character
The news comes after it was reported that Shane has been inundated with ‘extraordinary’ offers of work since the ITV show started.
Shane admitted he was ‘literally skint’ before heading into the camp at Gwrych Castle and had to borrow money from his friends and family.
Sources told The Mirror that the amount of attention Shane has been getting from TV bookers has been ‘extraordinary’.
He’s gone! Shane was booted from Gwrych Castle, North Wales, on Thursday night – leaving Vernon Kay , Giovanna Fletcher , and Jordan North as this year’s three I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! finalists
A show insider said: ‘Before going in Shane said he’d love to go back to EastEnders in 2021 but there are now other offers on the table too over the next 12 months.
‘Shane’s going to be a busy man. He won’t be skint when he’s finished taking some of the opportunities available for him now. There is nothing to stop him having a big comeback in 2021.’
MailOnline has contacted Shane’s representative for a comment.
Ka-ching? It comes amid claims that Shane has been ‘inundated with extraordinary work offers’ after impressing on I’m A Celebrity