X Factor Lucie going to Chicago's
Welsh singer Lucie Jones – who was controversially booted off X Factor – and heartthrob James Buckley from teenage sitcom The Inbetweeners will be appearing at Chicago Rock Café in Stafford later this month.
Mathew Horne from cult show Gavin and Stacey is also booked to appear at the Bridge Street bar in a revamp of the venue's entertainments programme.
New manager Dave Allen said: "This is a real coup for us and for Stafford."
Lucie Jones was knocked out of the hit show when judge Simon Cowell failed to back her, allowing the decision to go to the public vote, which saved Irish twins John and Edward.
The move sparked a wave of protest from XFactor fans with more than 3,000 complaints to Ofcom.
The talented 18-year-old will perform a 30-minute set and sign autographs when she appears at the Stafford venue on November 29.
Chicago Rock, in Bridge Street, will also play host to James Buckley who plays Jay Cartwright in E4's Inbetweeners. The Bafta-nominated series about a group of teenage friends struggling through sixth form has become a big hit since it was first screened in May last year.
The 22-year-old East Londoner, who is due to appear in a film version of the programme, will visit the town for an Inbetweeners Party event next Tuesday. The actor, who has also been chosen to play Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in a prequel to the much loved Only Fools And Horses TV comedy, will perform a DJ set and host a party games session on stage.
Mathew Horne has been booked for December 8.
Mr Allen said: "We've worked hard to bring such popular artists to Stafford, especially Mathew Horne who rarely does gigs outside London.
"Quite a few of the X Factor acts are touring Chicago Rock venues but James Buckley and Mathew Horne are exclusively Stafford appearances. And both of these nights are free, which is our way of giving something back to Stafford."
