“Fat Friends The Musical” is now being staged at Leeds Grand Theatre.

It is an adaptation of a show which first hit television screens in 2000, following the lives of a group of overweight friends as they struggled with the absurdities of modern dieting.

Running for five years on ITV, the show starred Alison Steadman, Gaynor Faye and Lisa Riley, and launched the careers of James Corden and Ruth Jones.

The musical stage version sees Natasha Hamilton (Atomic Kitten) taking on the role of Julia, Kevin Kennedy (Coronation Street) as Fergus, Yorkshire’s own Rachael Wooding (We Will Rock You) as Joanne, alongside Jonathan Halliwell (Let It Shine) as Paul and Chloe Hart (Hairspray) as Val. Yorkshire-born Neil Hurst plays Alan, and he was one of 13 men shortlisted to audition for the role of the overweight ambulance driver.

The cast is completed by Jodie Prenger, Sam Bailey, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Natalie Anderson.

Fat Friends was adapted for the stage by the drama’s original creator Kay Mellor.

Produced by Joshua Andrews and Adam Spiegel, with original music and songs composed by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, Fat Friends The Musical is packed full of warmth, life and...er...weight loss.

The show reunites our favourite foodie friends in an original musical bulging with hopes, humour and heart.

It runs at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday December 2. Visit leedsgrandtheatre.com or call 0844 848 2700 for tickets.