The island’s leading lady Samantha Barks is to star as Elsa when Disney’s Frozen the Musical moves to the West End.

Lonan’s Miss Barks will take on the Idina Menzel role from the film when the show launches in London next year.

Rising to fame in the BBC’s I’d Do Anything in 2008, Miss Barks has seen her stock continue to rise after widely acclaimed performances in Les Miserables and Chicago before taking on the lead role of Viviene in the Broadway version of Pretty Woman.

Miss Barks tweeted: ’I am beyond excited to take on Elsa and so thrilled to be a part of the Frozen London family!!’

The production will reopen the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with previews commencing in October 2020.

Directed by Michael Grandage - opens for priority booking late January 2020, with general on sale on March 6 2020.

Later this month she will be the star of Nightcap at the Turbine Theatre in Battersea, London, where she will be performing some of her most well know songs from her performances and sharing stories from her rise to stardom on both side of the Atlantic on December 16.

Last month Miss Barks was the surprise guest at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence where she performed On My Own from Les Miserables.