Brenda Edwards showed exactly why she is a very worthy replacement for Gemma Collins in Chicago, by belting out a song from the musical on Loose Women, a day before she hits the stage in Sunderland. And the singer also shared the mad rush she's facing to be ready in time.
Last week it was announced that Gemma, whose casting in the role of Mama Morton had caused a stir earlier this year, had pulled out of now just the show's run at Sunderland Empire, but the whole tour. Her exit was blamed on a flare up of an injury she sustained on Dancing on Ice, back in 2019.
As soon as Gemma's Chicago departure was announced, fans speculated who would replace her and, at the end of last week it was Loose Women star Brenda who was confirmed to be stepping into the role. And, while she'll make her debut this time around at the Empire on Thursday, it's not Brenda's first rodeo as far as Chicago is concerned.
READ MORE: Brenda Edwards speaks out on replacing Gemma Collins in Chicago
The Broadway and West End smash, featuring songs like All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango, gave Brenda her first stage role as Mama Morton in 2006 after being on The X Factor months earlier. Explaining just how last minute her casting had been after news of Gemma's exit broke, Brenda said: "I got a phone call from the producer that afternoon to ask if I would reprise the role, it was my first role out of X Factor in 2006 and I was in it until 2008-9. So I've been asked to go back."
Asked by host Jane Moore if she'd learnt her lines, Brenda replied: "I'm still learning my lines. I'm walking around with a script," before explaining she has only had one rehearsal, with that happening at the weekend, before she had a costume fitting on Tuesday.
Brenda will make her debut in Sunderland on June 2 and will also perform at the Empire on Saturday, June 4, before moving on with the cast to other venues.
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