JEFF Wayne’s musical version of The War of The Worlds has been chilling audiences since 1978.

It remains an award-winning masterpiece that has continually won new fans, spending over 330 weeks on the UK chart to date, reaching No 1 in 11 countries and selling over 15million copies.

Tonight sees the second and final of this week’s performances at the BIC.

Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson will be on stage as The Artilleryman taking over from David Essex’s classic rendition.

It is a brand new challenge for the rock star that grew up listening to Jeff’s album: “Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds is part of the musical landscape and I have always been a fan.

“It is daunting to do because people love it so much.

“I got the email from Jeff Wayne inviting me to be part of it and that is not something you can say ‘no’ to,” says Ricky.

The rest of the all-star cast includes Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow as The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, Jason Donovan playing Parson Nathaniel and Kerry Ellis as his wife, Beth.

Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson will be seen in the new production in 3D holography portraying the role of George Herbert, The Journalist, taking over from Richard Burton’s iconic narration on the original album, and previous tours.

l Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds continues tonight at the BIC at 8pm.