Leading lady! Kerri-Anne unrecognisable in new role for musical ‘Pippin’

Small screen veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley has made the leap to the big stage for her latest project as one of the leading roles in the musical ‘Pippin’. The show-business legend donned an outfit that was a far cry from her normal chic attire as she appeared in the production, which kicked off this week at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

In the all-singing, all-dancing affair, the 67-year-old performer can be seen wearing an eye-catching frock covered in a bold pink and blue pattern. Meanwhile, her iconic blonde locks have been replaced with a wig full of tight curls that sit in a regal fashion. She was also seen wearing a stage-acceptable amount of make-up, including a generous amount of blush and lashes.

The massively popular stage production ‘Pippin’ is a musical told by an acrobatic troupe and follows the adventures of the young prince Pippin (played by Gabrielle McClinton), who is looking for adventure and passion. During his time he solicits advice from his ‘saucy grandmother’ Berthe, played by Kerri-Anne.

Since being controversially sacked from Channel Ten’s Studio 10 in August – after being a panel member since September 2018 – Kerri-Anne found herself taking a break from the small screen and heading over to the flashy world of stage productions.

Channel Seven entertainment editor Peter Ford announced her new role last month telling The Morning Show that it was just one scene and one big number that Kerri-Anne was involved in. “But it’s a show-stopping number. You basically walk in there, steal the show and go home. It’s a great gig for her,” he said.

Her departure from Channel Ten’s popular panel show came as a shock to many after it was revealed in August by Mumbrella that cost-saving measures meant a number of cuts had to be made. Staff at the network were notified about the cuts in an all-staff email sent out on the same day.

The veteran presenter wasted no time discussing the life-changing news live on air the following day. “It’s very, very tough for a lot of people,” she said. “But I’ve always worked on a personal level. The Charles Darwin theory says to survive you don’t have to be the most intelligent, you don’t have to be the strongest, but you have to be the most adaptable.”