Jesus Christ Superstar to return with Moyles and Mel C

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Page last updated at 11:13 GMT, Wednesday, 5 December 2012

E-mail this to a friend

The UK arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar will return in 2013.

Promoters confirmed the musical would visit seven cities across England and Wales in March and will see the main cast members reprise their roles.

"Last year's tour was the first ever UK arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and it surpassed our expectations," said Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show's composer.

Jesus Christ Superstar 2013

Nottingham Capital FM Arena - 10 March
London O2 Arena - 13
Liverpool Echo Arena - 15
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - 17
Manchester Arena - 24
Newcastle Metro Arena - 26
Birmingham NIA - 28

Former Radio 1 breakfast show DJ, Chris Moyles, will return as King Herod.

Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm is to play Mary Magdalene again and will be joined by comedian Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot and Ben Forster as Jesus.

"The response from audiences across the UK and Ireland was overwhelming and the show was everything I had hoped for," added Lord Lloyd-Webber.

"It's great news that fans will have a final chance to see the show with the original arena tour cast of Tim Minchin, Mel C, Chris Moyles, Ben Forster and Alex Hanson."

Forster won the lead role after competing in ITV's Jesus Christ Superstar talent show.

Tim Minchin, Ben Forster, Melanie Chisholm and Chris Moyles

Melanie Chisholm was joined on the programme's judging team by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical's composer.

At the time, the TV show suffered from falling viewing figures and was criticised by Joanna Page, star of Gavin and Stacey, for making "people think anybody can be an actor".

The stage production has received mixed reviews from critics but more than 150,000 people went to see the musical during its first run.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 7 December.

Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter