Denise Welch lands role playing Queen Elizabeth II in musical theatre production

Geordie actress and television personality, Denise Welch has landed a musical theatre role, playing the former Queen of the United Kingdom.

The 65-year-old from Tynemouth, has worked as an actress since the early 1980s across various television shows, movies and theatre productions.

She is most known for acting in the soaps Coronation Street and Eastenders, as well as playing the role of regular character Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road.

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Denise has also been a regular panellist on daytime television talk show, Loose Women, appearing on the show since it began in the year 2000.

Now, she will be returning to the stage, playing the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Diana The Musical.

The musical focuses on the life and death of Princess Diana. The theatre production debuted in 2021, on Broadway. After the musical was released on streaming service, Netflix, it became a cult classic and will be arriving in London for the first time in 2023.

Denise will perform alongside both Maiya Quansah-Breed and Kerry Ellis, who will be playing the younger and older versions of Diana.

Denise joins the likes of Helen Mirren and Oliva Coleman in playing the role of the former Queen, among many others who have portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in various television shows and movies.

Denise announced that she will be taking on the role in a Twitter post, sharing a poster image announcement. The news gathered immediate attention with fans of Denise describing the announcement as “iconic” and “amazing news”.

Diana The Musical will perform at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, on Monday December 4 2023. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased via the WhatsOnStage website.