Celebrity gardener turned talk show host Alan Titchmarsh will join the cast of The Wind In The Willows when the Royal Opera House’s ballet version of the famous tale returns to the West End this Christmas.
The author and former Ground Force presenter will hopefully feel at home in the woodland setting of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved children’s story, as he makes his West End debut playing the production’s Narrator.
The show, which ran at the Duchess Theatre last Christmas, will play at the Vaudeville Theatre from 26 November.
Titchmarsh, who follows Blackadder and Time Team star Tony Robinson in the role, commented “I am thrilled and delighted to be joining this tremendous production which celebrates my all-time favourite children’s book. Poop poop!”
The Wind In The Willows, which is directed and choreographed by Will Tuckett, uses dance, song, music and puppetry to tell the story of four forest-dwelling friends whose world is rocked by a speeding car, a racing train and a rather unsavoury band of weasels.
Tuckett’s version, which was first seen at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio Theatre, has been so successful that it won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Family And Entertainment.
The Wind In The Willows opens at the Vaudeville Theatre following the current run of hit musical comedy Forbidden Broadway, which revels in poking friendly fun at all things musical theatre.