Jason Manford to star in Sweeney Todd production

Manford will appear in the show in the four weeks immediately before the Olympics

Comedian Jason Manford is to make his stage debut in the West End production of Sweeney Todd this summer.

The former One Show presenter will play Italian barber Adolfo Pirelli during a four-week stint from 2-27 July.

The role was famously played by Sacha Baron Cohen in Tim Burton's 2007 film adaptation starring Johnny Depp.

The production at London's Adelphi theatre stars Michael Ball as Todd and Imelda Staunton as his pie-making partner in crime, Mrs Lovett.

Jonathan Kent's revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical hastransferred from Chichester Festival Theatre, where it received critical acclaim when it opened last year.

Manford will be covering for Robert Burt - who is transferring with the rest of the original cast - while he appears at Glyndebourne.

The West End production begins previews this weekend and opens on 20 March.

Manford has had previous acting experience on television including Channel 4's Shameless and BBC sitcom Ideal.

But the stand-up comedian is best-known for his role as a team captain on Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats.