The brand-new comedy crime caper CLUEDO 2 – The Next Chapter slips into Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 October to Saturday 19 October 2024 and it’s packed with star power!

Reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion and Coronation Street star Ellie Leach is making her sizzling stage acting debut as Miss Scarlett, joined by famous Casualty face Jason Durr as Colonel Mustard. Catch them at The Grand next week!

Cluedo 2 is based on the classic Hasbro board game and will keep you guessing right up to the final twist. Roll the dice for this rollocking new spoof and meet a host of new suspects, a spooky new house, and lots of new bodies in this all-new tale of murder, mystery and secret passageways set in the swinging 1960s. You’ll laugh ‘til they die…

Rock ‘n’ roll legend Rick Black has not had a hit for years and he’s broke. Desperate to revive his fading career and excited to reveal his long-awaited comeback album, Rick has assembled his supermodel wife The Honourable Emerald Peacock; his manager Colonel Eugene Mustard; long-time roadie ‘Professor’ Alex Plum; his trusted interior designer Annabel Scarlett, and the mysterious housekeeper Mrs White. But there is still someone missing… Rick’s former song-writing partner ‘The Reverend’ Hal Green, who disappeared mysteriously at the same time Rick’s career went downhill…

As the bodies pile up, the infamous colourful characters uncover each other’s mysteries and secrets, as they dart from room to room trying to escape the killer and survive the night.

Ellie Leach won the hearts of the nation as she waltzed her way to victory on BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing last December. She is also known to millions of viewers as Faye Windass in Coronation Street and during her 13 years on the smash-hit soap, Ellie was involved in many memorable storylines and nominated for numerous acting awards.

West End actor and TV favourite Jason Durr was most recently seen as David Hide in BBC One’s Casualty, (a role he played for seven years from 2016) and audiences will also recognise Jason from his numerous other roles, including the motorbike riding policeman Mike Bradley from ITV’s hugely popular series, Heartbeat.

Christine Smith spoke to the popular TV pair about their thrilling new roles before they pack up the revolver, the candlestick and the lead piping for an unforgettable trip to the seaside:

“This is my first stage play and I am very excited to be playing Miss Scarlett, “ says Ellie. “It is nerve-wracking as it’s something completely different to TV but I really want to push myself out of my comfort zone. I am so grateful as Miss Scarlett is such an iconic character to play.”

Jason added: “I have done an enormous amount of television but there is nothing quite like performing in front of a live audience and making people laugh. I am looking forward to going back to my roots, acting on stage, and getting my funny bones going again in the form of this rip-roaring comedy. When I read the scripts for the first time, I was in a quiet coach on a train and I started hooting with laughter!”

Both their roles have also been cleverly reinvented to fit in with the new rock and roll setting of the play in the swinging 60s – something they are both hugely excited by. “At first, Miss Scarlet seems like butter wouldn’t melt,” reveals Ellie. “She is an interior designer and she seems very unassuming. But as the play develops, well….. people may not be quite what they seem. Cluedo is, after all, a thriller and a murder mystery game!”

Colonel Mustard is also hiding secrets as Jason explains: “We are going to be reinventing the narrative,” says the actor. “Rick Black is a rock star in the play and Mustard is his manager. Like Elvis had the Colonel, this chap has Mustard! He thinks he knows what he is doing but he doesn’t really.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve played Colonel Mustard,” he added. “I used to play him in the game as a kid! I grew up in Hong Kong and the one game we loved was Cluedo. I’ve introduced it to my children now too.”

Ellie also loves how unique the characters are. “Everyone can define who all the characters are. They are very distinctive.”

Touring around the UK can be tough but each are making sure to balance family life and other work commitments and both Ellie and Jason reveal they are planning to bring their families along to watch. “My wife and children will definitely be coming to watch,” said Jason. “It will be a chance for us to have a giggle. I think I look rather fetching in yellow!”

Adds Ellie: “My family can’t wait to come and watch me in this show. Obviously after going on tour with Strictly, I have now had experience of living out of a suitcase and what is great about this show is I am going to be going back to acting again. I was known for many years as Faye Windass and as amazing as that was, it was then nice for people to find out more about me and my personality on Strictly. Now it’s going to be great to transform myself into a new character. I love how Cluedo 2 is perfect for everyone in the family and it is lovely how, thanks partly now to The Traitors too, people really enjoy murder mysteries!”

What’s also particularly exciting for both stars is that 2024 marks a very special landmark for the famous Hasbro boardgame – its 75th birthday! “To be part of the 75th birthday celebrations is exciting,” said Jason. “I really hope we will make the audience laugh every time as we bring to life, live action versions of Cluedo’s famous characters on stage.”

Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter starring Ellie Leach (Strictly Come Dancing champion, Coronation Street) as Miss Scarlett and Jason Durr (Casualty) as Colonel Mustard is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 October to Saturday 19 October 2024 with evening and matinee performances. Age recommendation 14+ – mature themes.

Tickets from £22.50 with concessions, school and group rates and extra special discounts for 1894 Club Members.