According to the Daily Mail - Bill Sykes will be played by Burn Gorman who has previously had roles in Bleak House and Torchwood.

I LOVE BURN GORMAN!

Pleeeeeeeeeeesae let this be true!

Ooh thats great news if it's true, he's a great actor, really creepy in Bleak House. Much better than Danny Dyer or Nick Knowles.

The only thing is I couldn't see him working with someone like Jodie... he isn't exactly a big bloke.

A few weeks ago Nick Knowles was meant to be Bill Sykes!

Darn! I wanted it to be Jeff Hordley.

Burn Gorman is a fantastic actor - he'll be great in the role!

He is amazing!!! Eeee, I'm actually really excited about this. I do hope it's true. I'd actually pay to see him over most of the remaining Nancies...

I really hope this is true Burn Gorman would be great as Bill Sykes!

Yay! Gorman's a fantastic actor, which means the Nancy is going to have to be a strong actress too. Hmm...

Its on his wikipedia entry too so it must be true! I would book tickets to see him!

With Rowan Atkinson and now Burn*, I'd even go and see it if Samantha won! And that is saying something.

*if this article is true of course.

LOL!

I hope this is true but it's not yet been confirmed by CM or anyone connected with the Oliver! production team.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one as I think Burn is fantastic.

Ah, so that's why Captain Jack resurrected Owen! For a musical!

Burn Gorman as in Owen from Torchwood? Thought Bill Sykes was supposed to be a big menacing sort of bloke - hardly BG!

here's a link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...icle_id=565016

Can't really see him and Jodie working as Bill and Nancy. He'd need a more diminutive Nancy. Bye Jodie you're not Nancy.

Daily Mail are usually more accuarte on showbiz news than other papers.

Phoar Oliver tickets are becoming more appealing

And the young girls also more suited to playing along side him

You're right.
Looks like Niamh may be back in the running again. And wouldn't Jessie be taller than him?

He could wear cuban heels if he had to!

He'll be good and a man does not have to be big to be intimidating just evil at heart.

I don't think Bill has to necessarily be a big man, as long as he's menacing. Gorman's a good actor, he should be able to do the scary don't-mess-with-him act well - and I don't think that he would necessarily not fit with any of the girls based on stature either.

I like him. He was brilliant in Bleak house.

I agree Bill doesn't have to an enormous bloke but I can't see them casting a bigger girl in the role of Nancy. I think she would have to be smaller in height and frame.

I suppose this casting explains the departure of Fran and Sarah........

This is a really good point. I saw one stage version of Oliver, and Bill wasn't a tall man at all, in fact Nancy was taller than him, but he was an incredible actor and you felt yourself cowering in his presence. Height won't make a difference with the right impersonation of the role.

I cannot see Niamh as Nancy, end of.
She's too young and sweet and all wrong IMO.
I don't understand how they thought Sarah was too sweet - which I agreed with - but how this same rule does not apply to Niamh. That just does not make sense.
I know Jessie & Sam are young too, but they seem more Worldly IMO.

But Sarah is tiny!

Yes she is. Sorry, I thought she might be a bit too buxom next to BG, who appears quite slight.

i wanted tom hardy but burn gorman is fine.at least its not that mockney twerp danny dyer or nick knowles.ugh.
and the nancy i can see complimenting burn wonderfully is....jessie!