Strictly Come Dancing champion and EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny is to step into the role of Roxie Hart in the hit West End show Chicago.

The actress, best known for her roles in EastEnders and Byker Grove, opens in Chicago at the end of January.

"I love singing and dancing and this is a dream role for me," Halfpenny, 29, told The Sun.

"I'm very much looking forward to the future," she added.

Halfpenny will be replacing former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison, who bowed out last week, in the role of murderous starlet Roxie Hart.

In addition to her theatre prospects, she has also been offered advertising jobs in the new year which could bring her £1m.

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/4091765.stm
>http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds17638.html

Thats hardly a suprise.

Though congratulations to her.

wow well done jill!

thats wonderful. she will be amazing. i had shivers down my spine watching her dancing. ive always wanted to see chicago...i love the film and think the west end production would be great!

well done Jill and good luck! your fab!

I'm really pleased for her... she's fantastic!!

I'm a dancer but i wish i could dance like her. she deserved to win despite the rumours that she was a cheat.

Well done Jill. xx

Weren't Jill and Darren brilliant throughout the whole series ? And that Jive in the final - absolutely breathtaking, getting a perfect 40 from the judges. She deserves every success in Chicago and roles beyond that. Perhaps her being axed from Eastenders was the best thing that could have happened to her. Her Mam & Dad must be very proud. Anyone know of a fan club incidentally ?

Not that i know of... I'd be a member if she had fan club!!

I keep thinking that her dancing was such a hidden talent. there was an article about Jill in closer mag... she's not even bothered about being axed from Eastenders, i'm not surprised.
I loved her showdance... her kicks are great. i can't take my eyes off her when she's dancing, she lights up the stage.

Yup, that's for sure. I think the highest compliment she got was from Arlene Philips in the final... "As a choreographer, I bow to you..." etc. Mind you the whole panel was very complimentary.

I've been asking around if anyone had a recording of the show, one that I could copy to DVD. Silly me didn't think to record it for posterity. Had no luck so far.

Well, that's my wife and myself booked to see Chicago in mid February. Something to look forward to after post Christmas/New Year depression.

I soooo want to see Jill in Chicago too.

Is it just on in the West End??

Think so unfortunately. It's at the Adelphi (in the Strand). Cost me an arm and a leg for my wife and self as am travelling from North Wales and have had to book a theatre trip and one night's stay in a hotel Saturday night with a travel agent. Here's hoping Jill and Darren beat off the competition on the Christmas Champion of Champions on Wednesday. I read in the Mirror this morning they will be jiving to "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree".

Must remember to record it this time.

Them doing the Jive is soooo boring...they used that to win last time and succeeded...now they need to show that is not just that that will win it for them.....talking about flogging a dead horse!

Nat
xxx

Take your point, but if they're going to give it their best shot then then they obviously believe that the jive is their best shot. Personally, I could watch them all night whatever they dance.

It should be worth it, Chicago is a great show, and was better than I expected it to be when I saw it - might go and watch it again.

Chicago is an amazing show. I've seen it 6 or 7 times. I'm sure going to go try see Jill in it too. The show is very black... not pink like Jill! Will be great to see her acting/singing skills as Roxie. I'm sure she'll manage the dancing too.. it is all Fosse style which is a very particular style; but with the rate she picked up Ballroom I'm sure she will be fab! Good luck Jill!

Did you see her the pictures of her in some of the tabloids "glammed up" for her role as Roxie ? She looked amazing. Can't wait to get down to London to see the show. See that she and Darren Bennet scooped the double with their win of Champion of Champions. Her star certainly seems to be rising. As you say. Good Luck Jill.

Yes, I've got it on DVD - can send it to you if we can exchange email addresses without breaking rules of this forum.

Thanks a lot for that offer. Will send you a Private Message with my snail mail address - When I can figure out how to do it

Edit: You've got mail

I really want to hear Jill sing. she's on the Eastenders Christmas thing...the one where the cast are doing Christmas songs. i'm going to watch that... she's supposed to be singing!!

Yup, me too. Eight o'clock on BBC1 is earmarked for me as well.