FROM THE KUMARS TO CAMELOT | London Theatre Direct

Sanjeev Bhaskar is to join the cast of the multi award-winning record-breaking Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, to be crowned as the new Arthur, the King of the Britons, following in the footsteps of Tim Curry, Simon Russell Beale, Peter Davison and Alan Dale. Best known as the host of The Kumars at No. 42 and for his appearances in the award-winning radio and television sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, Sanjeev Bhaskar’s first performance at the Palace Theatre will be on 23 June 2008.

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT opened in the West End in October 2006 and after over two years of coconut smashing, fish schlapping and grail searching the show, which has played to audiences including royalty, rock stars, soap stars and supermodels, will head off from the Palace Theatre on Saturday 3 January 2009 in preparation for a UK tour beginning April 2009.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is "lovingly ripped-off" from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Book and lyrics are by Eric Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Other members of the SPAMALOT creative team include Casey Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners.

Sanjeev Bhaskar was last on stage in the West End at the Whitehall Theatre in Yasmina Reza’s Art. His film appearances include Scoop, Anita and Me, The Guru, Mystic Masseur and Notting Hill. His other television appearances include Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee, Chopra Town, The Way It Is, Love Soup and Position Impossible.

From 23 June the London production of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT will star Sanjeev Bhaskar as King Arthur, Swedish reality TV star Nina Söderquist as The Lady of The Lake, Gerard Carey as Prince Herbert, Ross Dawes as Sir Robin, Jake Nightingale as Sir Lancelot, Andrew Spillett as Patsy, Adam Stafford as Sir Bedevere and Michael Xavier as Sir Dennis Galahad.