Comic tipped for Producers role

Lee Evans has been tipped to star in the West End version of The Producers.

The comic's name has been touted to take one of the lead roles in the Mel Brooks musical when it transfers from Broadway in autumn 2004.

My Family star Robert Lindsay is in line for to co-star as the other unscrupulous impresario who tries to defraud investors by staging the worst musical ever, showbiz journal Variety reports.

Originally, Broadway stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were expected to reprise their smash-hit roles.

But David Ian, of producers Clear Channel Theatrical, said: "At the moment, (Lane and Broderick) are not coming here.

"We are convinced we can get two good people that are known and have marquee value and would be good in it. We've been working on casting the show with UK actors."

Ian said Lindsay and Evans weren't "a done thing by any means, we are still looking at it." But he said he expected to make an announcement before Christmas.

Published: 27 Aug 2003