EASTENDERS star Adam Woodyatt is to tour the UK in a stage show for six months during a break from the soap.
The actor has played Ian Beale for 35 years in the BBC soap but will take a break next year to star in the stage adaptation of Peter James’ crime novel Looking Good Dead.
It marks Adam’s return to stage in a play for the first time since 1982 as a 13-year-old at the National Theatre in Tom Stoppard’s On The Razzle.
He will star in the show at theatres across the UK from April until September during his absence from the soap.
Adam said: “I am so excited to be swapping the square for the road in the world premiere stage production of Peter’s fantastic novel Looking Good Dead.
“I can’t wait to tour the UK and to experience the feeling of performing this thrilling play in front of a live audience every night.
“There are not many things that would persuade me to take a break from EastEnders, but this is one of them.”
Author Peter added: “I am thrilled that Adam Woodyatt is going to star in Looking Good Dead.
“He’s a wonderful actor and I can’t wait to see him play the multi-layered character of Tom Bryce brilliantly.
“I’ve been humbled by the incredible reaction to my plays over the last few years and we now look forward to being able to thrill theatre audiences again, with this new play in 2021.”
The tour will begin in Bromley on April 1 before moving on to Shrewsbury, Sheffield, Cardiff, Leeds, Coventry, Norwich, Brighton, Salford and Cheltenham.
It will then transfer to Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Leicester and Southhampton before moving to Southend, Nottingham, Glasgow and Dartford.
The tour will wrap up its final four stints in Richmond, Cambridge, Malvern and Birmingham.
Further dates are expected to be announced.
