Former England cricket captain Freddie Flintoff is turning his attention to the stage as he joins the cast of Fat Friends – the Musical.

He will play leading man Kevin Chadwick in Kay Mellor’s latest production, which opens at Leeds Grand Theatre in November.

Flintoff, whose real name is Andrew, will star opposite Jodie Prenger, playing his fiancee Kelly, Sam Bailey and Elaine C Smith as the show kicks off a UK tour from Southampton to Blackpool.

Kay Mellor
Kay Mellor is taking her hit TV show to the stage (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner – and former camp-mate on Australia’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – said he was thrilled to be working with Mellor.

The Bafta-winning writer penned the original Fat Friends TV series, starring Ruth Jones and Alison Steadman, in the early 2000s, and has also recruited Flintoff for an appearance in her upcoming BBC One drama Love, Lies & Records.

“Having had the pleasure of recently working on an episode of Kay’s latest TV series, it’s great to have the opportunity to work with her again,” he said.

“I loved the TV series and think Fat Friends – The Musical, is going to give people a great night out. I’m really looking forward to it.”

For Mellor, casting Flintoff was a “no-brainer” when she discovered he had talents beyond the cricket ground.

London TRIC Awards Fat Friends
The Fat Friends TV cast (Fiona Hanson/PA)

She said: “I was introduced to Freddie at one of our TV casting sessions – it was clear to me that he could leave his cricket bat behind, embody a character, and understand the drama. It was a no-brainer… he got the part.

“Then, as we were talking through Fat Friends – The Musical, I wondered if Freddie could sing.

“I am thrilled and delighted that Freddie is able to join us for our run at Leeds and part of the tour as well… I can’t wait to start working with the super talented cast we’ve got so far.”

The heartwarming romantic comedy follows a group of foodie friends who try every health fad and fitness trend around to shed the pounds.

Writing the score, composer Nicholas Lloyd Webber said the show’s opening is already “nothing short of sensational” and welcomed Flintoff to the “stellar cast”.