Educating Rita reprised her radio and Menier Chocolate Factory performance as Rita, and Frank was played by renowned actor Tim Pigott-Smith. Like the Willy Russell season at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the production ran in repertory alongside "Shirley Valentine" starring Meera Syal. A UK tour played in 2012, starring Claire Sweeney and Matthew Kelly as Rita and Frank respectively. A 35th anniversary production was staged at Liverpool Playhouse from 6 February to 7 March 2015, starring Leanne Best as Rita and Con O'Neill as Frank, directed by Gemma Bodinetz. The same year the Chichester Festival staged a production with Lenny Henry and
Educating Joey Essex Educating Joey Essex Educating Joey Essex is a British television programme which began airing on ITV2 on 16 March 2014. The show features former "The Only Way Is Essex" star Joey Essex and is narrated by Phillip Schofield. The first programme aired in March 2014 and was originally planned to be a one-off special. On 5 June 2014, a full series was announced. In 2016 it was announced that "Educating Joey Essex" would return for a second series filming started in April. Series 2 premiered 12 June 2016. Essex announced whilst on ITV This Morning on 28 June 2017 that