Katherine Ryan admits she was FIRED from West End musical after landing ‘dream role’

KATHERINE Ryan has revealed she was brutally sacked from her West End musical debut just weeks before it opened earlier this year. The TV comedian, 43, said she had been offered a “small part” and was preparing to take on eight shows a week despite having a newborn baby at the time. Katherine Ryan has revealed she was fired from a West End musical Credit: Getty The comedian lost the role after an American producer heard her sing Credit: Getty But just before the show opened in May, she was told a producer in America wanted to hear her singing voice. After he did, he demanded she be axed. Katherine told The Sun: “I was almost going to do theatre. I was offered something recently with one caveat: that someone in America needed to hear me sing. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “I was really excited, but I shouldn’t have said yes because it was eight shows a week when I had a newborn. “Luckily, someone in America did hear my voice and they said no, and I got fired before it began.” The star welcomed daughter Holland with husband Bobby Kootstra in October Credit: Splash Katherine previously appeared as Pigeon on The Masked Singer Credit: ITV Katherine declined to name the musical, but added: “It was a musical that’s currently in the West End that opened in May.” Beetlejuice, showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, is the only show that fits that description. The hit musical based on Tim Burton‘s 1988 film starring Winona Ryder and Alec Baldwin transferred from Broadway earlier this year. Katherine’s agent did not respond to a request for comment. Most read in Showbiz Tamzin Outhwaite helped Katherine understand the demanding reality of an actor’s life Credit: Getty Katherine with husband Bobby Kootstra and their family Credit: Getty The star’s disappointing near-miss came shortly after she welcomed her fourth child, daughter Holland, with husband Bobby Kootstra in October. Katherine and Bobby also share son Fred, five, and daughter Fenna, three, while she has an elder daughter, Violet, from a previous relationship. The Canadian-born comic admitted that being given the boot may have saved her from taking on more than she could handle with a baby at home. She said: “You know what, it made me feel religious because I was like, by the grace of God, I could not have handled that with the newborn. “Because that is the one thing about theatre I will say, it’s so demanding.” Katherine said stage and screen star Tamzin Outhwaite has also helped her understand the hectic life of an actor. She added: “I’m personal friends with Tamzin – our kids go to school together and I love her so much and she’s so funny – but she’s up and down the country every time I text her. “She’s on tour, steaming her voice. It’s tough. That’s what they do. They do amazing things, these actors.” Katherine revealed musical theatre was where her love of performing began. She said: “A lot of comedians are doing shows like Titanique and they’re doing different things. I think it would be so awesome. “I started in musical theatre but as a hobby when I was my [eldest] daughter’s age. I love it. I love it. I love it.” Katherine has previously described musical theatre as her “first love”, having appeared in small productions of Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar and The King And I while growing up in Canada. Her singing ability has also come under scrutiny before. After being unmasked as Pigeon on ITV‘s The Masked Singer in 2023, Katherine admitted she quickly realised she was unlikely to win on the strength of her vocals. She said at the time: “I think it became obvious to me early on that I wasn’t going to win the singing competition so I should lean into the guessing game.” Comment now