Kym Marsh shares huge career news as she reveals she's starting new show

Kym Marsh has shared some huge career news and revealed her latest acting role. The ex-Coronation Street star appeared on Morning Live as a guest on Thursday, 18 April and shared details of her new opportunity.

Kym, 47, who is famed for her roles in shows such as Corrie and Waterloo Road, announced she'll be swapping TV for theatre later this year as she's signed up to star in 101 Dalmatians the Musical. The actress will portray the iconic character Cruella De Vil in the production, which will hit the road in June and travel all across the UK and Ireland.

Speaking to Morning Live hosts Gethin Jones and Michelle Ackerley, Kym, who is a regular Morning Live presenter, said: "I am about to go off on tour and play Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians.

"I am so excited, it's really funny because everyone that knows me, including you, would say 'Kym's such a dog lover' so it's weird because obviously I have to pretend that I don't like the dogs."

However, the latest role comes with a hint of sadness. Kym admitted landing the role is bittersweet, as her late father - who passed away in January - won't get the opportunity to watch her stage.

She said: "The sad part is that he won't be around to see it but he would have loved it, he would have been so thrilled to see me play this part. But it has come at a good time, to give me a bit of a lift and something to get my head into and kind of really look forward to."

She added: "And the family are all excited, because obviously it's a very family show, if you're going to come to the theatre you can bring the kids, there's something for everyone."

Kym's father died in January after battling prostate cancer. She revealed in March she'd opted to bury her later father with her son Archie, who passed away in 2009 moments after he was born 18 weeks prematurely.

“I felt that there had to be a time when I let Archie rest. Fifteen years is a long time to carry his ashes around. They have been everywhere with me – even to South Africa," Kym explained at the annual Mariposa Ball, which is held to honour the country’s baby bereavement heroes.

“And when we realised that dad wasn’t going to get any better, I asked him how he’d feel about [being buried with Archie] and he was delighted. He said he was happy to go on his journey with Archie, so that’s what we’ve done. We’ve done it as a family and it absolutely felt like the right thing to do.”