As The Cowardly Lion

Jason Manford is to play The Cowardly Lion in a West End run of  The Wizard of Oz.

The comedian will star alongside Diversity dancer  Ashley Banjo, who will play The Tin Man in his West End musical debut.

The show will run at the London Palladium from June 23 to September 3, with more casting to be announced later.

Manford has previously appeared in Sweeney Todd  as Signor Pirelli in London; played Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers across a UK-wide tour and as Caractacus Potts in the family musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

His other stage musical credits include a short run as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall and the lead role in the Kander & Ebb musical, Curtains. 

He tweeted today: ‘Jason and Ashley and bears, oh my! @LondonPalladium this summer, we’re off to see the Wizard.’

Tickets are available here.

Published: 23 Feb 2023