23 February 2006
EXCLUSIVE: MICHELLE THE MUSICAL
DailyRecord
Beverley Lyons & Cath Bennett
POP Idol winner Michelle McManus has been asked to audition for a starring role in one of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End productions.
In a bid to tread the boards Michelle, who shot to fame on the reality show, is having talks with the casting directors behind musicals Chicago, Hairspray, Wicked and Mamma Mia.
She told the Razz: "I've got an audition coming up for a show in a week or so. I'm meeting casting directors, because Hairspray is coming over from Broadway and Chicago has openings in the summer.
"It's a total honour to be asked to do these things. Look at Darius, who played Billy Flynn in Chicago. He shone. I might not get any of these parts but it's great to have the opportunity."
Since recording her debut album The Meaning of Love and writing diet book You Are What You Eat: Michelle's Diary with dietician Dr Gillian McKeith, Michelle's life has seen a few new twists.
Losing eight stone and dropping five dress sizes in a year has transformed the singer, who once weighed 22 stone.
She has just been announced as the new voice of Clyde 1 radio on Saturday nights, a role which will see her chatting and playing dance hits between 6.30pm and 9pm.
Michelle said: "I couldn't believe it when Clyde 1 asked me. I'm completely nervous and I'm being thrown straight in at the deep end. I don't know how things will start off because I have to learn how to use desk and get a feel for the show, put my own quirky things in."
Michelle says she won't be playing songs from her album The Meaning Of Love, or her no.1 single, unless someone insists on a dance version of it.
She said: "I'll not play All This Time - just party anthems for going out.
"I might sing along to a few tunes and scare people."
Michelle has also signed i up to host the Scottish end of the selection for The Eurovision Song Contest, Making Your Mind Up.
