Nearly 40 years on, based on HG Wells’ dark Victorian tale, Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of The Worlds remains a firm favourite to millions around the world. Marking its 40th anniversary, The War of the Worlds - Alive on Stage will be in Dorset on December 12 and 13.

Star of stage and screen Jason Donovan returns to the role of Parson Nathaniel alongside West End actress Carrie Hope Fletcher as Beth, his wife. Actor and theatre star Adam Garcia will debut as The Artilleryman, British singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner will perform The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, Inglorious front man Nathan James will play The Voice of Humanity, with Anna-Marie Wayne reprising her role as Carrie, The Journalist’s Fiancée.

The show will again feature a stellar cast with Jeff Wayne returning to the podium to conduct the 9-piece Black Smoke Band and 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings, while Liam Neeson retains his role in 3D holography as The Journalist.

Jason Donovan said: “I am delighted to be re-joining the cast for this very special 40th anniversary tour. The War of The Worlds has such enduring appeal and its fan base seems to grow and grow. With each tour, the scale, the drama and the special effects get more and more exciting, so I can't wait to see what Jeff has planned for this spectacular celebration."

This will be Jason's fourth appearance in The War of the Worlds.

He said: "I put everything I can into it. It’s nice to flex your muscles and do some big shows. It’s a great band, fantastic sound and a bit of meaty stuff to get your head into. They’re a great bunch of people to work with. It’s a great character to play, it’s a small part but it’s very powerful and it’s quite an actor’s part as well. I’m excited."

Jason describes his character Parson Nathaniel as 'a bit deranged' and 'a bit obsessed'.

He added: "He believes that the reincarnation of the devil is these Martians and he believes that he should have protected the world. He’s evangelical in a way, too - he’s possessed. I think I put a particular stamp on the character the last time I did it and working with Carrie was fantastic, the dynamic between her and I. So yeah, it’s madness, and I think I sometimes do madness quite well."

Carrie Hope Fletcher said: "I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to be reprising my role as Beth, Parson Nathaniel’s Wife, alongside Jason Donovan, especially for this momentous 40th anniversary year. Having grown up listening to the album, The War of The Worlds holds a personal significance, and with the new ingredients, I can’t wait to see how this new production has evolved."

Newton Faulkner said he remembers listening to the album of War of the Worlds as a child while going on long drives.

"I grew up listening to 'The War of The Worlds and I’m playing The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, alongside Liam Neeson and, as if that wasn’t enough, Jeff Wayne asked me really nicely. Also, it’s got giant Martian Fighting Machines in it!"

The production means a change of style for Newton, who is known for his stripped back acoustic music.

He said: "I’m normally zero theatrics. I’m probably the most relaxed person you’ve ever seen onstage. My shows are the most casual shows you will ever see. I have a rug, an acoustic guitar and I have a really good lighting guy, and that’s my show! And then to have 60foot flames and lasers, I’m going to learn a huge amount from it. But I like challenges. That is one of the things I am most excited about because that’s something I’ve never had any dealing with. I’ve seen big bands doing crazy shows, but being part of it is going to be really interesting because it is the polar opposite on what I do on my own tours."

Australian actor and dancer Adam Garcia, as the Artilleryman, remembers seeing the first War of the Worlds at the Royal Albert Hall.

He said: “I have been waiting to be a part of TWOTW live since it first began in this arena format.

"I started really listening to it the same time I started reading Tolkien at 12 or 13. I started getting into music then. I remember finding this album in LP form that my mother had. It’s a thrilling story, it’s like an audio book that’s done in symphony, so it’s a real ride when you listen to it.

"I was a child of the 70s but my parents played a lot of 60s stuff which was the start of when LPs started to change. You had Led Zeppelin, lots of people doing crazy stuff experimenting with music and studio sounds, longer forms of communication, and orchestration, and people began to take the idea of recorded music quite seriously."

Nathan James said: "I am beyond excited to be part of this production. I can't wait to stand on stage in these incredible venues and perform this wonderful music alongside such a hugely talented cast. I'm so thankful that Jeff has picked me to sing Thunder Child - a song I have loved since I was a kid. I remember hearing those opening chords for the first time and to get to hear them from backstage is going to be a really surreal moment every night. This is a proper dream job."

In 2018 TWOTW will 'break through the fourth wall', built around a huge arched bridge running through the centre of the arena brings the action closer to the audience for a most captivating and immersive experience.

This production, mixed live in surround sound, will once again feature the iconic three tonne, 35ft-tall Martian Fighting Machine firing real flame Heat Rays at the audience, a 100-foot wide 'Animation Wall' with two hours of cutting edge CGI, a ground-breaking levitation effect, the 'incineration' of a cast member in full view of the audience and leaf drops over the audience.

*The War of the Worlds - Alive on Stage, BIC, December 12 and 13. Call the box office for tickets.