THE stars shone brightly both on stage and off at a red carpet press night for the national tour of The Producers this week.

Manchester’s Palace Theatre hosted the glitzy event and the Daily Echo was there to discover what Southampton audiences can expect when Mel Brooks’ famous musical comes to the Mayflower Theatre in May.

There in support of comedian Jason Manford, who stars in the show, were Coronation Street stars Kym Marsh and Antony Cotton, who play Michelle Connor and Sean Tully, and comedian Dave Spikey, who cheered on their friend, who is making his debut in the role of downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom.

Also attending were Strictly star Lisa Riley, pop legend Noddy Holder from Slade, comedy actor John Thomson and Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington.

Despite the distraction of the celebrity audience, nothing could eclipse the spectacle, hilarity and sheer brilliance of this show.

Based on Mel Brooks’ beloved Academy Award-winning movie, The Producers tells the story of New York producer Max Bialystock (Cory English), who recruits the timid accountant Leo Bloom (Manford) to help him pull off Broadway’s greatest scam.

In their bid to stage a huge musical flop and run off with the box office takings, they accidentally pull off a hit – the unlikely Springtime For Hitler.

The show is unashamedly irreverent but also all-encompassing in its destruction of political correctness as it ridicules Swedes, accountants, old people, actors, gay men, lesbians, Nazis – and Hitler.

The smile on my face grew ever bigger at its systematic comic onslaught on all these stereotypes.

By the time it got to Hitler, gloriously gay in gold sequins, I was literally clutching my sides.

The cast is full of famous names, including Manford, comic Phill Jupitus and choreographer Louie Spence. Each and every one of them works their socks off to deliver a dazzling five-star show.

Manford’s comic portrayal of a nervous, comfort blanketclutching, naive and gullible Bloom is utterly believable. He sings superbly, whether belting out a showstopper or delivering a gentle melody, and he dances with ease too.

Jupitus is both terrifying and terrifically funny as the crazed, short-fused, carrier pigeon-keeping, gun-licking former Nazi Franz Liebkind.

His part will be taken by another great comic talent, Ross Noble, by the time the show moves to Southampton.

Filled with wonderful tunes, fun, farce and fabulous costumes, this surreal and sublimely funny show is totally unmissable!

The Producers visits the Mayflower Theatre on May 26-30.