DIANA Vickers will create the role of Kat in the new Dusty Springfield musical, Son Of A Preacher Man, whose debut tour will visit the Grand Opera House, York, from October 3 to 7.

Vickers, who was a semi-finalist in the 2008 series of The X-Factor, first appeared at the York theatre as the sexually innocent, all-American Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Show in April 2016.

She had made her West End bow as LV in Jim Cartwright's The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice in 2009 at the Vaudeville Theatre, where she returned to star as a "Miss Whiplash figure" called Holly in The Duck House, a satirical swipe at the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal, in 2013. Later, she played the "slutty but naive" Susan in the world premiere of Gemma Page and Michael Kirk's northern black comedy Hatched 'n' Dispatched, a "mucky romp through the morals, memories and music of the 1950", at the Park Theatre, London, in September 2015.

Now she will lead the cast in a show built around the heartbreak songs of Dusty Springfield, with a book by Warner Brown and direction and choreography by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Welcome to the story of three broken hearts, one Soho hang-out, and the only man who could ever help them, The Preacher Man himself, the legendary owner of a swinging Sixties joint that takes his name and plays host to "kids that dance the night away to the latest crazes and dare to dream of love" as he dispenses advice to cure the loneliest of hearts.

Except that this was a long time ago and all that remains are the memories, the stories and the myths. Until now, that is, when three random strangers, generations apart but all in need of help with their hopeless love lives, are drawn inexplicably to the site of the original venue. The Preacher Man is long gone, but his son, with help from the wonderful Cappuccino Sisters, might just find it in himself to channel the spirit of the Preacher Man and once more give these three lovesick strangers the look of love.

Revel Horwood says: "I'm delighted to bring to life for the very first time this wonderful story created by Warner Brown, with soulful songs from the legendary Dusty Springfield's iconic music catalogue. I hope that audiences in York will come to love this warm-hearted and uplifting new musical as much as I do."

Tickets for the 7.30pm evening shows and 2.30pm Wednesday and Saturday matinees are on sale at atgtickets.com/york or on 0844 871 3024.