Oliver! star Jodie on stage for Faenol

Aug 14 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

REALITY show winner Jodie Prenger is the latest addition to the line-up for Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival.

The former Blackpool agony aunt and cruise ship singer won BBC1’s I’d Do Anything talent search which saw 12 contestants battling it out week by week for a starring role as Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End revival of Oliver!

Her appearance at Faenol on Sunday, August 24 will reunite Jodie with I’d Do Anything judge John Barrowman. But this time they’ll be sharing the limelight in the Music under the Stars gala.

Announcing her signing, Bryn Terfel looked forward to the show: “This year’s musical theatre gala brings an incredible line-up of West End stars together: John Barrowman, Daniel Boys, our very own Shân Cothi, and now Jodie Prenger. She is a very welcome addition to this spectacular line-up that will create a night of music under the stars that promises to be quite unforgettable, and completely unmissable.”

During the TV series, Jodie quickly became a firm favourite amongst both the viewers and the judging panel, led by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was declared the winner by public vote in May.

Her stint in Oliver! will see Jodie star as Nancy alongside Rowan Atkinson in the iconic role of Fagin, and Burn Gorman as Nancy’s vicious love interest Bill Sikes. The show is due to open in the West End in December.

Boyzone will open this year’s Festival with a performance of their best-loved hits on Friday, August 22.

Tickets between £30 and £90 are available from the Venue Cymru box office on 01492 872000 or log onto www.venuecymru.co.uk