Brian Conley & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway", and took over from Michael Ball in the musical "Hairspray" playing the role of Edna Turnblad at London's Shaftesbury Theatre. He also played the same role in the UK Tour of "Hairspray", sharing the role with Michael Ball and actor Michael Starke, at selected UK venues. He has also partaken in his own live show, "The Best of Brian Conley", which showcases 'the best' of Brian's material from his past shows, interspersed with occasional showreels of either Larry the Loafer, Dangerous Brian (depending on who Brian is about to come on stage as) or a
Billy (musical) it 'the brightest British musical for years…it's going to hoist brilliant Michael Crawford into the ranks of the superstars.' " The Original Cast recording was released by CBS (70133) on May 1, 1974. Billy (musical) Billy is a musical based on the novel and play "Billy Liar" by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. The book was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, the music is by John Barry, and the lyrics are by Don Black. "Billy" opened at the Palace Theatre in Manchester before moving to the West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 1 May