McElderry to star in Corrie musical

Singer Joe McElderry is to appear in the Coronation Street stage musical Street Of Dreams.

The former X Factor winner from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, will be a guest star for the climax of the show during the Newcastle dates at the Metro Radio Arena on May 29 and 30.

He said: "I'm a massive fan of the show so it's really exciting to perform the finale song," he said.

The 20-year-old added: "I've seen bits and pieces at meetings to discuss the project. It's kind of like Moulin Rouge meets Coronation Street. It's really good. It's a little dip into musical theatre for me, I suppose."

McElderry - crowned the winner of ITV1's Popstar To Operastar in 2011 - will join an all-star cast, including Paul O'Grady, Julie Goodyear, Kevin Kennedy and Kym Marsh. They will perform the closing number, Ghosts - Take My Hand.

"I haven't met them all yet - I've met Paul before and get on really well with him - but I will do soon. They're all amazing and it will be brilliant to work with them," he continued.

"It will be different for me. I'm used to performing on my own in my own shows so it will be nice to be part of a big production with such talented people."