Craig Revel Horwood will swap the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom for the convent as his new major role away from the hit BBC dance show has been confirmed. The 61-year-old, the BBC One dance contest's longest-serving judge, will play Mother Superior in a new stage production of Sister Act.
Horwood previously directed and choreographed the UK tour of the beloved musical in 2015. The role of Mother Superior was made famous by the late Dame Maggie Smith in the 1992 film.
Cast and Tour Dates Announced
The show follows lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier, who is forced to go into hiding and live as a nun after witnessing a crime. Her unassuming disguise is quickly put into jeopardy as she begins to transform the struggling convent choir.
Comedian Paul Chuckle, who was spotted in the Strictly audience over the weekend, will portray Monsignor O'Hara. Pop Idol singer and West End star Zoe Birkett will take the stage as Deloris, a role portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg in the film, following her stint on Take That's Circus tour in the summer.
Tour Schedule and Theatre Credits
The tour will run from September 2027 until March 2028, opening in London before moving to Sunderland, Sheffield, Dublin, Manchester and Birmingham. Dates are also scheduled in Cardiff, Nottingham, Brighton, Belfast and Derry.
The musical adds to Horwood's string of theatre credits, which include playing Munkustrap in Cats, Dance Captain in Miss Saigon and Miss Hannigan in Annie. He was also one of the original cast members of Crazy For You and has received Olivier Award nominations for his choreography on Spend, Spend, Spend and My One And Only.
Strictly Icons Week Appearance
Horwood left Strictly fans taken aback alongside co-star Anton Du Beke when they appeared on the show on Saturday night (October 17) as the Gallagher brothers. It was Icons Week in the dance competition, meaning the stars were dressed up as legends such as David Bowie, Raye and ABBA.
The judges also got involved in the transformation, with Horwood and Du Beke dressing up as recently reunited Burnage brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher from Oasis. The pair sported khaki parkas and bowl cuts to resemble the siblings, while Motsi Mabuse was dressed as Beyonce and Shirley Ballas wore an extravagant ensemble and blonde wig as Lady Gaga.
