Strictly winner Jay McGuiness to star as William Shakespeare in & Juliet

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Jay McGuiness is to star as William Shakespeare in the second leg of a UK and Ireland tour of & Juliet.

The Wanted singer, 34, will take on the role at shows in Bristol, Wimbledon, Aberdeen, Leicester, Dublin, Woking, Bradford, Milton Keynes and Nottingham in 2025, while TV presenter Ranj Singh will continue as Lance, having played the role in the first leg this year.

Musical & Juliet, created by David West Read, is based on what would happen if Juliet decided not to kill herself at the end of the play Romeo And Juliet.

The latest version features an array of pop songs written by Max Martin including Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar and Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone.

Speaking about joining the cast, McGuiness said: “I love these songs; Max Martin has written hit after hit.

“I’ve really missed singing and dancing as the last thing I did was a play, so I’m excited to get back into it. And I love the & Juliet costumes, especially Shakespeare’s.”

McGuiness won the 2015 series of the BBC dancing show, partnered by professional dancer Aliona Vilani, beating Coronation Street actor Georgia May Foote and EastEnders’ Kellie Bright in the series 13 final.

In Anglo-Irish pop group The Wanted, McGuiness appeared on number ones All Time Low and Glad You Came, and all three of their studio albums.

The group have had 10 UK top 10 singles and four UK top 10 albums.

On the stage he has also performed in Rip It Up, a 60s-themed show at London’s Garrick Theatre, a musical version of the film Big in Dublin and the West End, and played the role of Sam in Sleepless: A Musical Romance, based on Sleepless In Seattle, at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

He will join Gerardine Sacdalan as Juliet, Lara Denning as Anne, Sandra Marvin as Angelique, Jack Danson as Romeo, Kyle Cox as Francois, and Jordan Broatch as May, in the cast.

The musical has been performed on all four continents since its premiere at Manchester Opera House in 2019, before moving on to the West End, winning three Olivier Awards.