Veteran entertainer Des O’Connor is to make his West End musical theatre debut this autumn at the age of 79, joining the cast of Dreamboats And Petticoats.
From 3 October, the former host of Countdown and Today With Des And Mel will play the dual roles of Older Bobby and Bobby’s Dad in the 60s musical that has had audiences at the Playhouse theatre swinging in the aisles since January 2010.
In addition to his television shows, which include Des O’Connor Tonight and The Des O’Connor Show, O’Connor has 36 albums to his name, selling more than 16 million copies worldwide. Yet this will be the first time the star has plied his trade in a West End musical.
Written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran – the team behind hit TV series Goodnight Sweetheart and Birds Of A Feather – Dreamboats And Petticoats was inspired by the million-selling albums of the same name.
Following young musicians Norman and Bobby as they compete for both a national song-writing prize and the affections of a girl, it features classic tracks including Let’s Dance, Bobby’s Girl, Runaround Sue and Let’s Twist Again.
O’Connor will join a cast that also includes former EastEnders star and Dancing On Ice winner Sam Attwater, who joined the production to play Norman earlier this summer.
MA