Hairspray is one of the biggest, most brilliant & successful musicals in history. It won virtually every theatre award going around the world.

It’s played Broadway, London and toured the world telling the story of a young girl fighting for what she believed was right.

Belfield has interviewed all of the Stars over the years including Michael Ball and Brian Conley. Search in the top right hand corner for these interviews.

Leanne Jones Starred as Tracy Turnblad and stole the show in the West End. She won ‘best actress’ in 2008.

Ms. Jones was back on TV when she auditioned for The Voice on Feb 1st 2014 – sadly no-one turned around.

Here’s Leanne’s life story recorded at the Shaftsbury Theatre in London’s West End….

Apart from two minor productions, including Karaoke Wedding at the Union Theatre and Enchanted: The Rock Opera at Valley Gardens, Pontefract, Jones’ first professional role was that of Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 London West End production of Hairspray.

Leanne starred in a production of the Jonathan Larson musical Tick, Tick… Boom! at the Union Theatre in 2010.[2] Leanne sang with YouTube comedy sensation Miranda Sings at the Leicester Square theatre.[3]

Leanne has her own one-woman show called Have You Met Miss Jones?, which has played at Freedom Bar in Soho and also The Delfont Room.

Leanne revisited the role of Tracy Turnblad for the 2010 DUCTAC performance of Hairspray in Dubai.

Jones went on tour in 2010 with the comedy play The Naked Truth, taking over the role of “Bev” from Lisa Riley.

She also performed in a production of Beauty and the Beast at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage for the 2011/2012 Pantomime season.[4]

In 2014, Jones appeared as an auditioner on the 3rd series of reality singing competition The Voice UK, singing “Skyfall”, but she was not selected by any of the mentors.

Recorded by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio & the BBC.

The post Leanne Jones Interview – BBC1 The Voice / Hairspray appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Michael is one of Belfield’s favourite guests.

He’s the biggest name in Musical Theatre having Starred in Les Miserables, Aspects of Love, Hairspray and many more.

He’s a hugely popular touring artist and has his own radio show on BBC Radio 2.

Here’s another Exclusive 30 minute chat with Belfield & Ball  from 2007.

In 2008 Alex went backstage at the Shaftsbury Theatre to talk to the Star of Hairspray – meeting the bigman of Musicals:

Enjoy a rare in-depth insight into the world of Michael’s Ball……

As an actor, Ball briefly appeared as Malcolm Nuttall in Coronation Street in 1985.

Ball has also turned his hand to presenting both on TV and radio. Ball had his own TV series, Michael Ball, in 1993 and 1994 a Christmas Special in 1995 and a 3 part series in 1998 filmed by BBC Wales Ball in the Hall.

These three episodes were combined together to make a special which was then broadcast on BBC 1.

Search ‘Ball’ for Belfield’s other interview with Michael.

Ball has presented The National Lottery and Children in Need. He co-hosted This Morning for a short period while the usual presenters took a break.

Ball has a regular show on BBC Radio 2, Sunday Night with Michael Ball, and is a cover presenter on the station as well. He covered for Ken Bruce on the mid-morning show for two weeks, from 7 April.

Interview by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio.

The post Michael Ball Life Story Interview Hairspray appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Tracie Bennett is the massive Star of endless West End musicals including Hairspray, Le Cage Aux Folles and Les Miserables.

On TV she’s appeared in Boon, Doctors, Coronation Street and virtually every other show you’ve heard of.

The former tax officer has a massive personality with a unique voice. Alex caught up with Tracie again in London.

Enjoy Belfield’s chat with the Star on Broadway from ‘End of the Rainbow’.

Her powerhouse performance as Judy Garland has taken the world by storm!

Hear her life story in an Exclusive 15 minute chat.

In February 2010, Bennett took on the role of Judy Garland in the first London production of Peter Quilter’s play, End of the Rainbow.

The production opened at Northampton’s Royal Theatre, and subsequently transferred to London’s West End where it was a critical success. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance.

The production transferred to Broadway in March 2012, with Bennett reprising her role.

For her performance in the Broadway production, Bennett received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.

In 2013 she joined the cast of detective series Scott & Bailey as Sharon, the estranged mother of DC Bailey

Recorded by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio.

The post Tracie Bennett Life Story Interview appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

One of the biggest musicals of its generation is Hairspray.

It won every award going around the world. It’s played Broadway, London and toured the world telling the story of a young girl fighting for what is right.

Belfield has interviewed all of the Stars over the years including Michael Ball and Brian Conley. Search in the top right hand corner for these interviews.

Alex travelled to Broadway to talk to one of the best Tracy Tunblad’s – Kathy Brier….

Kathy Brier played the role of Marcie Walsh McBain on ABC soap opera One Life to Live from October 18, 2002 until June 17, 2009 and returned briefly in November 2009.

In 2004 her performance earned her a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Brier began acting in the theatre, with regional credits that include Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Libby Tucker in I Oughta Be in Pictures, Joy in Cinderella, and Rizzo In Grease.

Her Off-Broadway credits include Ron Taylor and Mayor Maggie in Bat Boy The Musical at Union Square Theatre, The Prince and the Pauper at The Lamb’s Theatre, O’Casey Knock at The John Houseman Theatre, Tango Ballad at The Actor’s Studio and A Broadway’s Diva Christmas at the Julia Miles Theatre.

In 2010, Brier appeared on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, episode 1.9 Belle Femme, and portrayed singer/actress, Sophie Tucker, a well-known vaudeville performer. She also sings some of the original music of the series.

Interview recorded by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio.

The post Hairspray On Broadway – Kathy Brier / Tracy Turnblad Interview appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaima, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray.

The musical’s original Broadway production opened on August 15th, 2002.

Belfield flew to Broadway to meet the big Stars of Hairspray.

Mary Bond Davis Starred in the classic film ‘Coming to America’ .

She’s taken Broadway by storm ever since with her remarkable voice.

Next, Alex talked to a Broadway legend – Dick Latessa.

Hairspray’s style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.

When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colorful array of characters, such as Corny Collins (The show’s singing host who shares Tracy’s liberal political views) and Velma Von Tussle (The villainous producer of the show who does everything in her power to further her daughter’s career and destroy Tracy’s and Corny’s).

She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

Recorded 2002 by Alex Belfield for the BBC and Celebrity Radio.

The post Hairspray The Musical Broadway Interviews appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Brian Conley is one of the UK’s greatest comedians, TV Stars & musical theatre actors.

He’s toured the UK in Hairspray & Oliver and is about to start a run in Barnum.

He shot to fame on ITV with the ‘Brian Conley Show’ with legendary characters like ‘Septic Peg’ & ‘Nick Frisby’ with his catchphrase “It’s A Puppet!”

Brian is one of Belfield’s favourite Stars. He has one of the best singing voices in the business and a remarkable singing voice.

He’s the all rounder who in 2008 Starred in Hairspray in the West End.

Brian appeared as part of Team Ant on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, and took over from Michael Ball in the musical Hairspray playing the role of Edna Turnblad at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

He also played the same role in the UK Tour of Hairspray, sharing the role with Michael Ball and actor Michael Starke, at selected UK venues. He has also partaken in his own live show, “The Best of Brian Conley”, which showcases ‘the best’ of Brian’s material from his past shows, interspersed with occasional showreels of either Larry the Loafer, Dangerous Brian (depending on who Brian is about to come on stage as) or a generic showreel of his work.

Like the Brian Conley Show, the stage show invites guests to perform on stage alongside Brian. In 2010, the show went on tour again, covering more areas of the country.

He recently finished playing Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver! and also finished a West End run as Edna Turnblad in Olivier Award-winning Hairspray. His recent stage career has included lead roles in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Music Man at the Chichester Festival, Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood) and Olivier Award-winning Jolson, in which he played Al Jolson.

On 7 November 2012, ITV confirmed that Conley would feature in the 2012 series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. On 19 November 2012, Brian left the jungle on medical grounds.

In April 2014, Conley was a contestant on CBBC’s ‘Driving Academy’.

The post Brian Conley Life Story Interview ~ Hairspray Musical appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Ben James Ellis is an English stage and script actor who starred in the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of the musical Hairspray from its opening in October 2007 until July 2009.

Ben is the ‘hot dude’ who shot to fame on ‘Any Dream Will Do’ on primetime Saturday night BBC1.

Find out why the girls just love Ben in a rare interview recorded in the West End……

On 3 December 2007 Ben performed with the cast of Hairspray at the Royal Variety Performance, held at Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool, in front of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The show was screened on ITV, on 9 December.

On 19 February 2008 he was a Ready Steady Cook contestant on BBC Two alongside his Hairspray co-star Leanne Jones. He won the show and donated the £100 prize to St Catherine’s Hospice in his home town of Scarborough.

Ben appeared as Link Larkin in The Weakest Link “West End Musicals” show on BBC1.

The West End Cast of Hairspray performed on the BBC’s Children In Need on 14 November 2008. They also performed on the Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV), at the Variety Club Awards In London (Channel 4), on “Tonight’s the Night” with John Barrowman and “Lets Dance for Comic Relief” both on BBC1.

Ben presenting the backstage reports of Hairspray: The School Musical for Sky 1, starting August 31, 2008. Ben has appeared in Bratz Design Academy on Nicholodeon and was a presenter on “Ultimate Car Tuning” on Sky TV.

Ben did some presenting work on Noels HQ for Sky 1.

Recorded 2008 for the BBC and Celebrity Radio by Alex Belfield

The post Ben James Ellis Exclusive Interview appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Michael is one of Belfield’s favourite guests.

He’s the biggest name in Musical Theatre having Starred in Les Miserables, Aspects of Love, Hairspray and many more.

He’s a hugely popular touring artist and has his own radio show on BBC Radio 2.

Here’s another Exclusive 30 minute chat with Belfield & Ball  from 2007.

Enjoy a rare in-depth insight into the world of Michael’s Ball……

As an actor, Ball briefly appeared as Malcolm Nuttall in Coronation Street in 1985.

Ball has also turned his hand to presenting both on TV and radio. Ball had his own TV series, Michael Ball, in 1993 and 1994 a Christmas Special in 1995 and a 3 part series in 1998 filmed by BBC Wales Ball in the Hall.

These three episodes were combined together to make a special which was then broadcast on BBC 1.

Ball has presented The National Lottery and Children in Need. He co-hosted This Morning for a short period while the usual presenters took a break.

Ball has a regular show on BBC Radio 2, Sunday Night with Michael Ball, and is a cover presenter on the station as well. He covered for Ken Bruce on the mid-morning show for two weeks, from 7 April.

Recorded 2007

The post Michael Ball Exclusive Life Story Interview appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Brian Conley is one of the UK’s greatest comedians, TV Stars & musical theatre actors.

He’s toured the UK in Hairspray & Oliver and is about to start a run in Barnum.

He shot to fame on ITV with the ‘Brian Conley Show’ with legendary characters like ‘Septic Peg’ & ’Nick Frisby’ with his catchphrase “It’s A Puppet!”

Brian is one of Belfield’s favourite Stars. He has one of the best singing voices in the business and a remarkable singing voice.

He’s the all rounder who in 2008 Starred in Hairspray in the West End.

With Panto and Hairspray he’s a busy boy in 2010….

Brian appeared as part of Team Ant on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, and took over from Michael Ball in the musical Hairspray playing the role of Edna Turnblad at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

He also played the same role in the UK Tour of Hairspray, sharing the role with Michael Ball and actor Michael Starke, at selected UK venues. He has also partaken in his own live show, “The Best of Brian Conley”, which showcases ‘the best’ of Brian’s material from his past shows, interspersed with occasional showreels of either Larry the Loafer, Dangerous Brian (depending on who Brian is about to come on stage as) or a generic showreel of his work.

Like the Brian Conley Show, the stage show invites guests to perform on stage alongside Brian. In 2010, the show went on tour again, covering more areas of the country.

He recently finished playing Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver! and also finished a West End run as Edna Turnblad in Olivier Award-winning Hairspray.

His recent stage career has included lead roles in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Music Man at the Chichester Festival, Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood) and Olivier Award-winning Jolson, in which he played Al Jolson.

On 7 November 2012, ITV confirmed that Conley would feature in the 2012 series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. On 19 November 2012, Brian left the jungle on medical grounds.

In April 2014, Conley was a contestant on CBBC’s ‘Driving Academy’.

Recorded Oct 2010 by Alex Belfield for the BBC and Celebrity Radio.

The post Brian Conley Exclusive Life Story Interview appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.

Sharon D Clarke is one of Alex’s favourite people EVER!

She’s starred in ‘The Lion King’, ‘WWRY’ and in 2009 ‘Hairspray’.

Clarke has a massive personality and an even bigger voice. So distinctive, so powerful – so brilliant!

Belfield couldn’t resist going back stage at the Shaftsbury Theatre to meet her!

Check out SDC’s latest interview from Ghost by searching for ‘Sharon’ in the top right hand corner.

Enjoy an Exclusive interview with SDC and Alex Belfield….

2011 saw Clarke take the role of Oda Mae Brown in a musical adaptation of the film Ghost. Beginning previews in March at the Manchester Opera House, the show transferred in June 2011 to the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre replacing Grease.

Clarke was nominated in 2012 for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical losing out on the award to Nigel Harman for his role in Shrek the Musical.

In October 2011, she appeared in a concert of the new musical Soho Cinders at the Queen’s Theatre, London. Clarke has also worked as Musical Director on Meridan.

Since finishing in Ghost The Musical upon its closure in 2012, Clarke has appeared in her own one woman cabaret at the St James Theatre.

She appears in James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner at the Royal National Theatre for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 2014 Olivier Awards.

In the summer of 2014, Clarke played the supporting role of Mariah in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Porgy and Bess.

Check out SDC’s latest interview from Ghost by searching for ‘Sharon’ in the top right hand corner.

Recorded 2010 by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio and the BBC.

The post Sharon D Clarke Hairspray Musical appeared first on Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.