Kerry Ellis and Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson to join Jeff Wayne’s new The War of the Worlds Arena Tour

The producers of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: the New Generation – Alive on Stage promised they would announce two of the guest artistes who will be appearing in the new production when it opens at Dublin’s 02 Arena on 29th November.

The first name to be revealed is West End star Kerry Ellis playing Beth. She will star alongside Liam Neeson who is  replacing Richard Burton appearing in 3D holography as the story's narrator journalist George Herbert. At a press launch  this morning Ricky Wilson - the lead singer from the Kaiser Chiefs (pictured) has also been announced as playing the Artilleryman which is a role previously played by Jason Donovan and David Essex.

Kerry has an impressive list of West End credits since she joined the cast of Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival of My Fair Lady in 2001 performing the part of Eliza Doolittle on numerous occasions  while Martine McCutcheon was off. 

She was subsequently spotted by Brian May and Ben Elton and in 2002 was cast in We Will Rock You originating the role of Meat which she left in 2004 to play Ellen in Cameron Mackintosh's UK tour of Miss Saigon. In 2005 she joined the cast of Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre playing the role of factory girl Fantine. In 2008 Kerry played Svetlana in Chess In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Josh Groban .

Kerry played the green witch Elphaba in the production of Wicked! at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for two years and in 2010 took over the role of Nancy from Jodie Prenger in Cameron Mackintosh's London revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which she played until the production closed on 7th January 2011.

Kerry has recently done a concert tour and launched her first full album “Anthems” which was produced by Brian May.