Nancy winner to appear in Les Mis

Prenger won the role of Nancy in May.

Jodie Prenger, winner of TV's I'd Do Anything, is to make her West End debut in Les Miserables, in preparation for her role as Nancy in Oliver!

The 28-year-old will be part of the ensemble cast to gain additional stage experience before the Lionel Bart musical opens in London in December.

The actress has also been in training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Prenger will appear for three or four weeks in the long-running musical at the Queen's Theatre, from 26 August.

A spokesman for Mackintosh Theatres said that the actress, who has not worked in the theatre before, was given the opportunity to work on Les Miserables so she could experience what it is like to be regularly performing in a West End musical.

He added that Prenger will perform a variety of small roles, but none of the principal characters.

Cameron Mackintosh, who will be producing Oliver!, said: "One of the great things about Jodie is that she grasps every opportunity offered to her and she is eager to work.

"When she won I'd Do Anything, Jodie told me that she didn't want to sit around for six months but wanted to really use the time before going into rehearsals - I'm delighted that this is one of the things she's chosen to do."

Prenger will begin rehearsals for Oliver! in November before it opens at London's Theatre Royal.