Thorpe will take over as Madame Morrible at London's Apollo Victoria April 14. She replaces Susie Blake, who ends her run April 12.

Thorpe has appeared in such TV series as "The Brittas Empire" (playing the receptionist whose children lived under the counter), "Absolutely Fabulous" (playing Patsy's colleague Fleur), "Murder Most Horrid" and "The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle." She has also appeared with Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French in their series "Girls on Top" and "French & Saunders." In the cinema, she was the head of the W.I. in "Calendar Girls." On stage, her other recent roles include playing Fraulein Kost in Rufus Norris' current West End production of Cabaret and appearing in Michael Attenborough's production of Brighton Rock at the Almeida.

Wicked also currently stars Kerry Ellis as Elphaba, Dianne Pilkington as Glinda, Oliver Tompsett as Fiyero and Nigel Planer as The Wizard.

Wicked plays the Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London SW1; for tickets call the theatre's box office at 0844 826 8000.