Fat Friends The Musical postpones planned tour dates

Fat Friends – The Musical has postponed its planned 2022 tour.

A new production had originally been due to begin performances in January.

However a message on the show’s website has revealed dates have been postponed as a result of the pandemic.

The statement reads: “We regret to inform you that due to recent and ongoing Covid-19 related events and their direct and detrimental impact on the production of Fat Friends – the Musical, this show has sadly had to postpone its scheduled UK and Ireland Tour and we are now looking in to rescheduling the production with alternative dates.

“We were very much looking forward to delighting audiences again with this delicious treat of a feel good musical, that addresses such important and timely issues and was such a celebrated hit when it first toured the UK in 2018.

“We would like to thank audiences for their understanding and support and are confident that we will find a way to bring the show back to theatres and sell out audiences again, at a time and in circumstances, that will allow Fat Friends to return, bigger and better than ever!

“So watch this space! And for now, all we can ask you to do, is to keep supporting your local theatres and, particularly in these difficult times and as the show’s finale song sings, to remember to ‘Love Who You Are’!”

The tour was set to star Lee Mead who tweeted this week: “Very sad to announce that our tour for Fat Friends the musical has been postponed.

“I really hope to see you all in the not so distant future as Kevin along with our amazing company. The producers are currently looking into rescheduling the production with alternative dates x”

The stage show is based on the hit TV show Fat Friends, which starred James Corden and Ruth Jones, and is written by Kay Mellor, who also created the TV show.

Featuring original songs from Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the show follows the infamous group of T.V’s most loveable characters as they are put through their Zumba paces at their local branch of Super Slimmers by the lovelorn Lauren whilst Kelly fantasises about fitting in to the wedding dress of her dreams.

Set to join Lee on the cast were Sherrie Hewson as Julia, Jessica Ellis as Kelly and Les Dennis as Fergus. Marc Akinfolarin joins the cast as Alan with Alex-May Roberts as Val.