Liz McClarnon - From Atomic Kitten to The War of the Worlds

Former Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon talks to Sunita Patel about her new life in musicals.

She's used to sharing the stage with two gals. But former Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon will have two fellas by her side for the next three months when she stars in her first stage musical with ex-Neighbours star Jason Donovan and X Factor runner-up Rhydian.

The pop singer has landed the lead female role in Jeff Wayne's musical version of HG Wells' War of the Worlds.

After hugely successful and critically acclaimed sell-out UK arena tours in 2006, 2007 and 2009, the science fiction spectacular is set to return to the stage for a fourth year.

And the death rays and fighting machines will be lighting up Birmingham NIA on December 9.

"My dad used to have the LP - and I loved the idea of it. I wanted to do something special for my first musical," enthuses McClarnon.

"Jason and Rhydian are both really good singers, but very different. I am really looking forward to singing with the boys and harmonising with them."

Co-star Donovan, who is no stranger to the stage and has been cast as Artilleryman, has taken the 29-year-old under his wing.

"Jason really looks after you. He's a bit of an uncle and is looking to have really good time on tour. He is such a laugh," she says.

And she has become good friends with Welsh singer Rhydian, who will play the challenging and emotional role of Parson Nathaniel.

"He is teetotal, but the funniest man you'll ever meet," she says.

"I thought when I first met him that he was going to be quite staid, but the first two hours of us meeting at a photoshoot, they had to shout at us, 'stop being so stupid. Stop being so immature'. It was just so funny."

She confesses she is a talent and dance show addict, and while busy rehearsing for the tour, she still finds time to watch The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.

"Rebecca has got such an amazing voice," she says.

"And after Saturday, I really like Cher. I love One Direction. They are so cute, and those sleepy fringes are just going to melt hearts all over Britain."

But she is not a fan of eccentric Brazilian Wagner Carilho, a former Dudley PE teacher.

"At the beginning, I thought 'that's funny, he has got to go through', like everyone else did.

"But now I think he is really killing the songs and it's like being at a really bad karaoke night somewhere."

She has been cheering on friend and Strictly contestant actor Jimi Mistry.

However, she thinks Kara Tointon will be crowned this year's winner.

"She is really good, but she has always had the figure. I like it when they start off a bit unfit and then they end up with these gorgeous, sleek figures. It's not fair," she chuckles.

McClarnon has just signed a new record deal, but her talents do not end at singing.

In 2008 she swopped the microphone for a kitchen apron and took part in the Celebrity Masterchef series which she went on to win.

The result has been her own cook book which is out next year - and she is keeping her fingers crossed for a cooking show on telly too.

If a touring musical, cookbook and record deal are not enough to keep her occupied, she has also just finished filming the second series of her makeover show Hotter Than My Daughter, and is currently working on two fiction novels, the first of which she hopes will be out next autumn.

"How do I find get the time to watch X Factor and Strictly?" she giggles.