It's strictly Chicago for Jill

When Jill Halfpenny was on her way to winning Strictly Come Dancing, she described in graphic terms how exhausting it was to get in shape for the final. "Dancing has made me use bits of my body that I've never used before," she said.

Here she is using them again - as she prepares to launch her West End stage career with a starring role in the hit musical Chicago.

Landing the part marks an astonishing transformation for the 29-year-old actress, who was axed from her role as Kate Mitchell in EastEnders and was scratching around for ways to pay the mortgage.

Now she is about to star as scheming murderess Roxie Hart, a role previously played by Denise van Outen, Ruthie Henshall, Jennifer Ellison and Claire Sweeney - another soap actress turned TV reality show star who went on to enjoy mainstream success.

Halfpenny - who with Darren Bennet beat athlete Denise Lewis, comedian Julian Clary and their partners to clinch the title of Strictly Come Dancing champion, said she was thrilled to get the part, adding: "I love singing and dancing, and this is a dream role for me."

As well as the high-profile part in Chicago, she is said to have been offered television and advertising deals which could earn her up to £1 million next year. A few months ago her career was looking a lot less promising.

One of several actresses dropped by EastEnders after it hit a ratings crisis, she said: "They felt they had taken the character as far as they could. It wasn't any kind of big axing. I was only initially supposed to be in the soap for six months. I didn't cry, it's a job and the job ended."

Now such disappointments would appear to be history. Halfpenny starts a seven-week run in Chicago next month, taking over from Josefina Gabrielle. Before she does, she has one last Strictly Come Dancing date: a Christmas Special pitted against series one winner Natasha Kaplinsky. Halfpenny and Bennet are 1-2 odds-on favourites, with Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole at 3-1.