Cheryl to make her West End debut in 2:22 - A Ghost Story, replacing ex Love Island host Laura Whitmore

Former Girls Aloud star Cheryl is set to make her West End debut in 2023, as she has confirmed she is joining the cast of 2:22 - A Ghost Story. Cheryl will replace ex Love Island host Laura Whitmore as Jenny.

Speaking on her upcoming role, she said: “I am really excited to be taking part in what is such a new challenge for me. I have always loved and been a big fan of theatre so I’m especially excited to be playing the role of Jenny in this production of 2:22. It is a brilliant role and subject matter with a very interesting plot!

“Danny Robins is such an intriguing character which is evident throughout this play and his style of writing has an odd sense of familiarity to me, being a fellow Geordie! I look forward to working with Matthew and the other cast members and can’t wait to get going.”

This is the fifth time the cast has changed during its run on the West End. 2:22 first premiered on the West End in 2021, and has been nominated for three Olivier Awards including Best New Play, along with winning the Best New Play category in the Whatsonstage awards.

As well as a new cast, 2:22 will soon have a new home too. The new cast will be performing at the Lyric Theatre, with the production moving from the Criterion theatre. The new cast will see Hugo Chegwin playing Ben, Louise Ford playing Lauren and Scott Karim playing Sam.

Hugo, nephew of late TV presenter Keith Chegwin, said: ‘I am so appreciative to have been asked to be a part of the next cast of 2.22. It’s a big jump out of my comfort zone but it is going to be amazing.’

Scott Karim, who will play Sam, said: ‘It’s a real treat to be part of a production like 2:22 A Ghost Story, that grips and chills all types of theatregoers. I can’t wait to join the exciting new cast and help tell this thrilling story.’

What is 2:22 - A Ghost Story?

This supernatural thriller sees Jenny believe her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer. So they’re going to stay up until 2:22.

Danny Robins, the writer of 2:22 - A Ghost Story said: “I’m hugely excited to be moving into the Lyric, another brilliantly atmospheric theatre, and to be welcoming Cheryl to the show. She’s someone we’ve watched grow from her Girls Aloud days to the icon she is now, and seeing her in this very different light will be an utter thrill.

“We’ve had a great tradition of Jennys making their West End acting debuts and blowing audiences away, and I know that Cheryl is going to be absolutely sensational and spine-tingling. Also, we grew up very close to each other in Newcastle so I can’t wait to hear Jenny with a Geordie accent! Add into the mix the brilliantly funny Hugo, who a load of us will love from having watched People Just Do Nothing, and the huge talents of Louise and Scott, and you have a cast that is going to cause a major buzz I think.”