Loose Women star Brenda Edwards is set to replace Gemma Collins as Mama Morton in the touring production of Chicago.
The Loose Women panellist and former X Factor contestant, 53, will join the cast for dates in June and July.
Former The Only Way is Essex star Gemma was due to make her debut with the musical at the Sunderland Empire this month but has now pulled out due to a knee injury.
Brenda, who has also appeared in Hairspray, Carousel and We Will Rock You, and will now take Gemma’s place in the production, starting on June 2.
Brenda, the mother of late music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, made her West End debut playing the fearsome matron of the women’s ward at Cook County Jail in 2007.
The Chicago production explained earlier this week that Gemma will no longer be appearing.
A statement read: “ Gemma Collins ' management have informed the producers of Chicago she will no longer be appearing in the UK Tour of the show due to a knee injury.
“The producers of Chicago wish Gemma all the best for the future.”
It's thought an injury she sustained while skating on Dancing On Ice in 2019 had returned.
She later posted a video of her receiving treatment, writing: “Early morning session for my knee. I can't describe the pain.
“The swelling is next level. My leg has ballooned with my knee. Hopefully this will take the swelling down.”
A source told The Sun : “Gemma is absolutely gutted she’s had to pull out of Chicago. She has been in floods of tears and is inconsolable.
“Gemma realised her knee wouldn't stand up to the gruelling schedule.
“She had a bad fall on Dancing On Ice and an injury to her knee then started to flare up, as it has done before from time to time.
“Gemma knows she wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demands of a gruelling show like Chicago.
“She knew her lines off by heart and was even told she could cut down rehearsals because she knew the part inside out.
“She had an X ray two weeks ago and then went to see someone about her knee last Friday which meant she missed a rehearsal.
“It was a last-ditch attempt to gauge the problem before the opening night. However she has had to admit defeat and accept the inevitable.
“She is still able to walk around but dancing, singing and acting in 48 performances over six weeks with all the travelling stuck in a car meant she wouldn’t be able to give the part her all.”
Brenda will now star in the production alongside the previously announced cast of Lee Mead as Billy Flynn, Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart, Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly, Jamie Baughan as Amos Hart and BE Wong as Mary Sunshine.
Her run will continue until July 23 with dates at Cardiff New Theatre, Winter Gardens Blackpool, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre, Norwich Theatre Royal and New Theatre Oxford.
