Cheryl on her West End debut in 2:22 – A Ghost Story: ‘Disasters are part of the experience’
Singer Cheryl says she has a “healthy amount of nerves” about making her West End debut.
Speaking to Sky News ahead of her opening night in 2:22 – A Ghost Story, the Girls Aloud star said she has been baffled by how people have been shocked to hear she acts.
“To me it’s like another side of entertainment, it’s not a million miles away for me,” she said. “When I came to see the show it just felt right, I just felt like I could truly do that and enjoy it. And I have.”
Pic: Helen Murray
Following in the footsteps of singer Lily Allen and former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, who are among several stars who have appeared in the hit play, audiences will see how Cheryl‘s character Jenny believes her new home is haunted.
But while the play may be frightening, theatreland’s newest leading lady certainly isn’t scared.
“It’s live so whatever happens on that stage happens on that stage, and [during previews] we’ve had a few things smashing, things leaking, a few disasters, but that’s just part of the experience of it,” she said.
“It’s more scary when you feel nothing, like when you’re halfway through a tour and your body is doing it but your mind is thinking nothing, that’s when you make mistakes… so a little amount of nerves are healthy and helpful.”
Cheryl stars as Jenny, the role originally played by Lily Allen (pictured) when the play opened in 2021
While tabloids have relished writing about the singer’s move into acting – speculating she’s receiving one of the biggest fees in West End history and paying paparazzi to secretly snap pictures of her on stage – she says her “coping mechanism” is to block it all out.
“I don’t look at any of that, I am having a ball,” she says.
‘I can feel the energy’
Of course, it’s a little harder to ignore the army of Cheryl fans who have been out in force for all her preview performances.
“I can feel the energy… I’ve got some that have supported me for decades that are still coming to support and it’s the weirdest thing, I can sense them, I can feel the love,” she said.
However, the star concedes there are moments when she thinks: “Don’t start whooping!”
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“I’m just enjoying being in the moment,” she says. “If that comes, lovely; if not that’s also fine, because I’m really enjoying myself.”
Cheryl stars in 2:22 – A Ghost Story at the Lyric Theatre until 23 April
Charlie Colin, a founding member of 90s pop rock band Train, has died after slipping over in a shower, according to reports.
The incident is understood to have happened in Belgium, where the 58-year-old had been house-sitting for a friend in Brussels.
According to TMZ, the star’s mother confirmed what had happened – but could not confirm exactly when he died. His sister also confirmed the musician’s death to US entertainment site, Variety.
The band, formed in San Francisco in 1993, released a statement on Instagram saying: “When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him.
Colin, left, and Pat Monahan perform during the 44th annual Grammy Awards in 2022. Pic: AP
“He was THE sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band, that’s the only reasonable thing to do.
“His unique bass playing and beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF (San Francisco) and beyond.
“I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer, but he had a vision of his own.
“You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Read more from Sky News:
Anonymous rapper who claims to be footballer announces first gig
The sports events and festivals that clash with general election
Colin was a founding member of the band, alongside Pat Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Scott Underwood, and Jimmy Stafford, and with them recorded hits including “Drops of Jupiter” and “Marry Me”.
He was reportedly forced to leave the group in 2003 due to substance abuse issues.
The band recorded their most famous hit, “Hey, Soul Sister”, in 2009 following Colin’s departure from the group.
Entertainment
Dide: Masked rapper who claims to be a Premier League footballer announces first live gig
Dide, the anonymous masked rapper who claims to be a Premier League footballer, has announced his first live gig.
The music star, who rose to prominence on social media last year and wears a studded black rose mask to conceal his identity, will perform in London in June.
Known only as Dide, the incognito rapper has sparked frenzied speculation about his identity, with Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and West Ham’s Michail Antonio among the names thrown into the mix.
“The main thing for me is the music rather than the football player,” he told Sky News exclusively Iast year, in his first on-camera interview. “I guess fans and the public ran with all these different opinions, which is cool.”
Who is Dide? Sky News meets the mystery rapper
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October 2023: Dide speaks to Sky News
Announcing his first live show, he said: “Finally, my first live show! My first live public performance.
“I know you all have been getting on to me about doing one. You can’t miss this!”
The show will take place at The Lower Third on Denmark Street in Soho, central London, on 20 June.
Interestingly, England take on Denmark for their second group-stage match of Euro 2024 in Germany that afternoon. Could this be a reason behind his choice of venue, or coincidence?
Either way, presumably he won’t be at the match – ruling out Saka, who is in the England squad – but hopefully he’ll get to watch before he goes on stage.
However, there’s no mention of the England game in his announcement.
“Thank you for your support,” Dide added. “See you at the show.”
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Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Ahead of the gig announcement, Dide shared a video on social media announcing Energy, which could be a new track, to be released on Thursday.
“Time to peel back the layers,” he wrote alongside the clip. “Mask off.”
During our interview last year, he told Sky News his identity would be revealed in the future.
Fans will no doubt be watching to see if and when that happens.
Pre-sale tickets are available from 23 May, with general tickets on sale from 28 May.
Some sports fans and music lovers who want to vote are set to be double booked on polling day after Rishi Sunak called a general election on 4 July.
The prime minister announced in the pouring rain this afternoon that “now is the moment for Britain to choose its future“.
But those set to see The Killers at the O2 Arena or Megan Thee Stallion at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro who also want to vote may face a challenge to their plans.
Other gigs clashing with the general election include Morgan Wallen’s biggest-ever UK show at Hyde Park, and Paloma Faith’s stadium show at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff.
Comedian James Acaster – who backed Labour’s Rosie Wrighting to be elected MP in Kettering – is also performing at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on the same day as the election.
Usually, polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day and require attendance in-person with an acceptable form of ID.
The Electoral Commission says they can get busy, however, particularly before most people start work or towards the end of the day, which might make it harder for people to attend events and vote on the same day.
But it is possible to vote by post, or by proxy, the commission says, if you have applied to do so within the deadline.
The thousands at Glastonbury will be back from the festival in time to vote on 4 July
A number of other music festivals are either starting on Wednesday 3 July or Thursday 4th, and others are starting the day after, including BST at Hyde Park with Kings Of Leon, Kylie, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli, among others.
Glastonbury attendees will be relieved however as election day comes the week after the four-day festival, held from the 26 to 30 June.
Just after hours after announcing the election, Sunak rolled out the Conservative’s vision for another five years at the ExCel centre in east London.
But the prime minister might pause campaigning in four days’ time to watch Southampton play Leeds in the Championship playoff final. He was spotted at St Mary’s Stadium to watch the Saints see off West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
What about the Euros?
Sticking with football, both England and Scotland will look to win Euro 2024 in Germany this summer, while Sunak and Keir Starmer campaign at home.
The Three Lions will play Serbia on 16 June, Denmark on 20 June and Slovenia on 25 June.
Meanwhile, Scotland will kick off the tournament against Germany on 14 June, before playing Switzerland on 19 June and Hungary on 23 June.
There’s also a chance either side could play the day after the general election: If England finish second in their group and win their round of 16 game, they will play on 5 July at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.
Scotland will play this day if they top their group and win the first knockout game.
If England finish first in their group, or if Scotland finish second, and either side win their round of 16 game, they will play on Saturday 6 July instead.
England will play the day after the general election if they finish second in their group and win their round of 16 game
Any other clashes?
For some private schools, 4 July is the end of term, which could mean some intend to start their holidays on that day.
For those watching the tennis, Wimbledon will take place from 1 July to 14 July – often a full day trip for many who attend.
On the day of the election, the tournament will see the second round of the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles, as well as the first round of the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Doubles.
The Henley Royal Regatta will be in full swing on 4 July, having started two days before, while the British Grand Prix is due to get under way the day after on 5 July.
Read more:
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Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
But those perhaps most likely to be annoyed by the election date will be in Scotland, with the six-week state school summer holiday starting from 28 June, with many jetting off as soon as the children break up.
Pete Wishart, SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, expressed his discontent on X just after Sunak spoke, saying: “A Scottish school summer holiday election is the final insult this Tory Government can impose on Scotland.”
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