IT was one of the most watched shows in television history - and now its set for the stage in Southampton.

Band of Gold, the stage adaptation of Kay Mellor's multi award-winning 90s TV series, will visit Mayflower Theatre next spring as part of its world premiere tour, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

A star-studded line up of soap actors will appear in the show.

Gaynor Faye, best known for Coronation Street and Emmerdale, will star alongside Eastenders favourite Laurie Brett and Kieron Richardson, who has had a long-running role in Hollyoaks.

X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who had a three year stint in Coronation Street and another Corrie favourite, Sacha Parkinson will also appear.

The show is brought to the stage by writer, director and actress Kay Mellor OBE, best known for her work on several successful and ground-breaking drama series including Fat Friends, Band of Gold, The Syndicate and In The Club.

She was also behind Fat Friends The Musical which visited Mayflower Theatre early last year and starred former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff and Love Lies & Records, the hit BBC series from 2017.

Kay told the Daily Echo: "I have been asked many times whether Band of Gold would return, and I’ve always wanted to find a way to breathe life back into the characters we grew to know and love on television.

"I'm thrilled to see the story move from the small screen to the stage, and I can’t wait to bring the production to Southampton next year.”

Band of Gold was the ground-breaking crime drama that captivated over 15 million viewers each week when it aired on ITV for three series between March 1995 and December 1997. It starred the likes of Geraldine James, Cathy Tyson, Barbara Dickson and Samantha Morton.

Band of Gold saw a young mother turn to prostitution to pay the bills and support her children after she threw her abusive husband out of the house. The series revolved around the lives of a group of sex workers who lived and worked in Bradford's red-light district.

The groundbreaking crime drama enthralled the nation, with bookmakers taking bets on the identity of the killer before the final episode.

Band of Gold's Southampton dates are February 4 to 8.

Tickets are on sale now