http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16683259

Congrats to him!! I'm sure he'll be great

Yeah I think he will be great too

http://www.wizardofozthemusical.com/...izard-in-town/

I saw the show at the weekend there with Michael Crawford as the Wizard, and it was a fab production! I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure Russell will do an amazing job in it.

I think it is funny and fab that BOTH him and Flavia have ended up in top West End shows at the exact same time. After their show stopping numbers on SCD, not really surprising I don't suppose

I know Russell is a great entertainer, but kudos to Flavia for tailoring routines that had everyone talking about them each week as with another pro, he could have been out in week 1. I think a lot of the fame he is finding now, is due to the great partnership they had together.

Well done to them both.

hi, I posted about this yesterday in the Greytops thread, I love Michael Crawford and, for me, he is the Wizard so it will be interesting to see how Russell get on, I'm sure he'll be great but it's a hard act to follow ..... and I didn't know Russell could sing

Perhsps they could sign Lulu up as...?

It will be interesting to see if he can play the wizard of oz rather than Russell Grant as the wizard of oz. If it's the latter, I fear he will be on a path of diminishing returns (panto).

He said during SCD that he wants to get back to his first love - the stage. SCD has given him the chance to re-establish himself on the boards.

Well I'm meant to be seeing it in April so I'll se what he's like in it. Should be interesting to see

In one of the ITT shows they showed a clip of Russell acting (or something) in his acting days (pre breakfast time astrology stuff) and he seemed quite competent.

I look forward to hearing any reports

Dear Russell in Wizard of Oz, one word, Fabulous.

Can she shout as loud as a cannon

He'd be perfect as Herod in the new production of Jesus Christ Superstar that ALW is doing later this year with an ITV audition show.

Haha, I love how I spotted this thread above another entitled 'Tesco Mince Pie flavoured crisps'

I saw this last night with Russell in it, was quite disappointed. He messed up his lines a lot, can't sing and is basically just himself the whole way through it - rather than being the Wizard.

I was interested to read your comments, I've been a fan of Michael for 30 years and he was a wonderful Wizard, but I am a bit biased hopefully Russell will improve when he's been in the show a bit longer

I'm really sad I didn't get to see him actually, as he was one of the main reasons my family wanted to see the show.