The Hour

Hairspray star Michael Ball says global icon Lady Gaga is a faultless talent…even if she is a little potty.

Ball, who met the Poker Face superstar on the Jonathan Ross show where she sported a telephone hat, joked that she could learn a fashion tip or two from his Hairspray character Edna Turnblad.

The performer, who is currently touring in the crowd-pleasing role which he believes transformed his career, offered his perspective on Lady Gaga.

“She is potty but what a talent,” he said. “You can have all this madness and all this flakiness but then when you can sit down and play the piano and you can sing like that live - I heard her in rehearsal as well - she was faultless.

He added: “She is a gifted writer and performer.”

Ball, who is currently performing the Olivier Awards winning show at the SECC in Glasgow, says he is enjoying working alongside Les Dennis as they take on the challenge of playing husband and wife.

“It is a marriage made in heaven,” Ball joked. “I have had a few husbands and this one is a keeper. I don’t think I have enjoyed a job more in my life.

“What I love is that Edna starts off as a bit of a munter and then she blossoms.”

Continuing in the role of the fun-loving Edna since 2007, Hairspray has captured the heart of the UK’s king of the musicals.

“It is proper musical comedy, a family show, but it has this underlying subversion going on with it and it is telling a good story about people being marginalised, about being able to be part of the big picture.”

Hairspray is on at the SECC until Wednesday, May 5.