'You feel like a rock star'

The Mormons are back! The incredibly irreverent and wildly funny smash hit musical The Book of Mormon returns to Bristol starring TV, stage and film actor Sam Glen. NATALIE BANYARD had a chat with Sam

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FIENDISHLY well-crafted, blissfully original, and hilariously irreverent, hit musical The Book of Mormon is back. And if you're not already a convert, you soon will be.

The show that promises to restore your faith in musicals is returning to the Bristol Hippodrome from October 21 to November 8, with Shameless, Coronation Street and Three Day Millionaire actor Sam Glen starring as the well-meaning but socially awkward Elder Cunningham.

Sam recalls: "I first saw the show a couple of years back in the West End with my housemate. The moment Elder Cunningham ran out I thought 'I have to be in this show!' It's genius. It's shocking, hilarious, but, most importantly, it's packed with heart."

The nine-time Tony Award and four-time Olivier Award-winner musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of Salt Lake City missionaries, sent on a mission to Uganda - a place that's about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get.

The pair are hoping for a few baptisms and a couple of conversions. Instead, they are welcomed by some very harsh realities and a particularly unpleasant warlord.

Sam, who younger TV viewers will recognise from CBBC's 2015 drama World's End, says: "These two missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, are paired up and sent on their mission to Uganda. But let's just say not all is as it seems when they arrive!

"I play Elder Cunningham, who is just a big ball of chaos and energy. All he wants is a best friend and when he's partnered up with Elder Price all his prayers have been answered. He's hilarious, awkward but is our anchor throughout the show. You can't help but fall in love with his chaos."