FORMER X Factor champion Joe McElderry will be in town next February to brighten up the Theatre Royal in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joe will don the dazzling multi-coloured coat in Bill Kenwright's superb production for his first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who's Tommy in 2012.

Joe was just 18 when he won the sixth series of X factor in 2009, having been mentored by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and beaten off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon.

The Geordie then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climb and his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number three on the UK Albums Chart.

Joe has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making.

He also has the distinct honour of being the first and only celebrity to triumph in three reality TV shows having been crowned winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and slaloming his way to become champion of Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump in 2014.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tells the vibrant and exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours which sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

The show is presented by Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group – lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Chantelle Nolan, manager of St Helens Theatre Royal, said: “Following the success of Blood Brothers, we are absolutely thrilled to present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and are sure Joe McElderry will be perfect for the role of Joseph.”