COLEFORD singer and actress Emma Hatton has landed her biggest West End role to date playing a witch in the musical Wicked.

The talented performer has received the good news that she will play the coveted role of Elphaba in a prequel to the Wizard of Oz from October.

Proud dad, Keith Boyle said: "This is wonderful news for Emma as she has wanted to play this role for quite some time. She had to undergo six rigorous auditions at the end of March and has just found out that she has got the job.

"The role is one of the most demanding female lead roles in musical theatre as the songs are hard to sing, and it will certainly stretch Emma, but I know she can do it."

For the last 18 months, Emma has been covering the female leads of Scaramouche and the Queen and Ben Elton smash hit musical, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre.

This in turn has earned her a nomination for the West End Understudy of the Year award.

Keith added: "Every year the West End Frame vote on who has performed their roles well and as Emma has been acting as a bystander to the leading roles she has been recognised for her ability to adapt to this. I know she is very excited to be nominated and to lead the way in the Wizard of Oz."