Omid Djalili, perhaps best known for tummywaggling his way through a rather unfunny Turkish dance routine on TV panel shows, will replace Rowan Atkinson in the West End revival of Oliver!, it was announced today.
Djalili, who has spent a number of years working the standup comedy circuit, will appear in the role of Fagin this summer. The Cameron Mackintosh production opened last month with the West End's largest ever advance sales (£15m) and is currently booking until February 2010.
Djalili has earned his cartoon-villain stripes in a number of blockbuster Hollywood films, starring as the vaguely Middle Eastern, archetypally angry bloke in Gladiator, The Mummy and Pirates of the Caribbean. Most recently, he has written and performed in The Omid Djalili Show, the second season of which will air on BBC One next month.
Cameron Mackintosh said Djalili's ability "to inhabit his characters with such comic energy and wily cunning" made him the natural successor to Atkinson. Djalili will take over the role from 20 July, appearing alongside Jodie Prenger, who is scheduled to continue in her role as Nancy until 12 December 2009.
