Chris Moyles Set For Role As King Herod In 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Musical - Can He Prove His Critics Wrong?

Break A Leg: Chris Moyles Takes To The Stage - Will He Silence Any Doubters?

Former Radio 1 breakfast DJ Chris Moyles makes his debut as King Herod in the stage version of Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber's revamped Jesus Christ Superstar on Friday.

Pictures taken of the boisterous star during rehearsals this week show his physical transformation for the role - slicked-back hair and he's had a shave.

But can the unlikely stage star, who will be joined by Tim Minchin as Judas, Ben Forster as Jesus Christ and Spice Girl Mel C as Mary Magdalene in the touring musical, prove his critics wrong?

He may find inspiration in another British success story.

James Corden received similarly raised eyebrows when he announced his move to stage.

Unlike Moyles, Corden was an actor already, first rising to fame in 2007 playing Smithy in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, for which he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance, but he was hardly seen as serious stage material.

Especially when he went on to feature on the No.1 single Shout along with Dizzee Rascal - the unofficial anthem of the England football team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa - and starred in terrible film Lesbian Vampire Killers.

Did anyone ever expect Corden to then win a Tony Award? Not exactly...

Corden shaped up and got serious in 2011, as the lead in the award-winning comedy play One Man, Two Guvnors, which transferred from the National Theatre to the West End and then to Broadway. This was a storming success, with Corden taking on all comers to collect this year's Tony Award for Best Lead Actor - something he said proved that nobody should ever give up on anything.

Could Moyles be Britain's next theatre darling or will he soon be back barking down the airwaves?

You can decide for yourself, as The Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour kicks off in London on 21 September before visiting Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool and Nottingham. The tour finishes in Sheffield on 21 October.

For fans of his Radio 1 show - or those who can think of nothing worse than Moyles lording it up as King Herod - he recently announced he will be going on tour with an 80-minute live comedy show he's created, which will reportedly feature loads of audience participation and a live band who will no doubt supply the music for Moyles’ parody songs.

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