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Van Outen confirmed for BBC comedy

11/07/2007

West End star Denise Van Outen is to star in the new BBC comedy drama The Empress' New Clothes.

She will be joined by Liz White, who featured in Life on Mars, in what will be the final instalment in a modern anthology of fairy tales shown on BBC1.

Van Outen will star as Michaela, an actress in the fictional soap opera Empire State. She is focused on outshining her arch-rival at the forthcoming Silver Sphere Awards, but soon discovers that the real battle will be about clothes.

Her friend Shannon, played by White, discovers Michaela's rival heading for designer clothes shops, leading Michaela to vow to out-dress her at the awards in spectacular style.

The other fairy tales already covered include Rapunzel, which starred Lee Ingleby; Cinderella, which featured James Nesbitt; and Bill Goat starring Bernard Hill.

All of the shows have been filmed in Northern Ireland and were made by Hat Trick Productions.

The Empress' New Clothes will be produced by Rhonda Smith and directed by Peter Lydon.

Its story is based on a Danish fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen which was first published in 1837.

Van Outen recently concluded a spell as a judge on the BBC1 show Any Dream Will Do which sought to find a leading man for the West End production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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