Nicole Scherzinger Leads the cast of Cats at the Palladium

It has now been confirmed that Nicole Scherzinger will lead the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical Cats at the London Palladium, which begins previews on 6 December 2014 with an official opening night on 11 December, where it is booking to 28 February 2015.

Nicole Scherzinger studied theatre and dance at the Wright State University in Ohio. In 2003 she joined the Pussycat Dolls who have sold 50 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. She has subsequently gone on to enjoy success as a solo artist, and in 2011 she joined the UK version of the X Factor as a judge.

She will play the central role of 'Grizabella' in the new production, the role originally created by Elaine Paige, delivering the famous song 'Memory'. She will perform the role from 6 December 2014 to 7 February 2015.

The singer said of the announcement: "I am really thrilled to be making my West End debut in such an iconic show and I couldn't be more excited...I grew up listening to Andrew's extraordinary music and was lucky enough, a couple of years ago, to record Cats' beautiful song 'Memory'...I am truly honoured to have been asked to take part in what I know will be a very special time in my career."

The West End cast for Cats also includes Cameron Ball (Macavity/Admetus), Kathryn Barnes (Tantomile), Cassie Clare (Cassandra), Ross Finnie (Skimbleshanks), Charlene Ford (Bombalurina), Adam Lake (Alonzo), Paul F Monaghan (Bustopher Jones/Asparagus/Growl Tiger), Joel Morris (Carbucketty), Natasha Mould (Jemima), Benjamin Mundy (Coricopat), Joseph Poulton (Quaxo/Mistoffelees), Nicholas Pound (Old Deuteronomy), Sophie Ragavelas (alternate Grizabella), Clare Rickard (Jellylorum/ Griddlebone), Adam Salter (Bill Bailey), Laurie Scarth (Jennyanydots), Hannah Kenna Thomas (Victoria/White Cat), Callum Train (Munkustrap), Zizi Strallen (Demeter) and Dawn Williams (Rumpleteazer) who are joined by swings Ryan Gover, Barry Haywood, Alice Jane, Grace McKee, Dane Quixall and Libby Watts.

Cats is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history. It received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical, and in 1983 the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical, and ran for eighteen years. Since its world premiere, the musical has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 10 languages and has been seen by over 50 million people world-wide.

Based on T. S. Eliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats', the new production will reunite the original creative team, Director Trevor Nunn, Associate Director and Choreographer Gillian Lynne, Designer John Napier and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

"On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life."