He will join Kerry Ellis and Steven Hartley who are currently playing Nancy and Bill Sikes, respectively, and will also be newly joined by Stephen Moore, who replaces Julian Glover as Mr. Brownlow. Abbot, who succeeds Griff Rhys Jones as Fagin, recently played the role last year when he stepped in to take over for two weeks when Rowan Atkinson had to have an emergency operation. He has also previously played the role at the London Palladium in 1997 and subsequently on tour around the U.K. and in Toronto the following year. He has also appeared in the West End in Little Me, My Fair Lady and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and on U.K national tours in the title role of Doctor Dolittle and as Roger de Bris in The Producers. Other theatre appearances include starring in the West End in Willy Russell's One for the Road and Ray Cooney's Caught in the Net. He is best known for his TV comedy program, "The Russ Abbot Show," which enjoyed more than ten series on different channels.

Moore has appeared at the National Theatre in Enemy of the People, Plenty and Bedroom Farce (also Broadway). His West End credits include Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Festen. He was most recently seen as Hector in the National Theatre’s tour of The History Boys, a role he also played in the play's West End run at Wyndham's Theatre. His film credits include "The Boat That Rocked," "Brassed Off" and "Clockwise." He is best known to television audiences as Kevin’s Dad’ in "Harry Enfield and Chums."

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 412 2955, or visit www.oliverthemusical.com.