Cheryl confirmed to be joining the 2:22 cast on the West End, replacing ex Love Island host Laura Whitmore

Cheryl is set to make her West End debut as she prepares to star in 2:22 A Ghost Story. She is replacing former Love Island host Laura Whitmore as Jenny. Whitmore has also been replaced by Maya Jama on the ITV 2 dating show.

This comes as 2:22 announces its fifth cast for its run at the Lyric Theatre in London. The current class will bow out of the show on January 8, 2023 with a new cast set to take over, featuring Cheryl, for a three month run.

This supernatural thriller sees Jenny believing 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.

Speaking on her role, Cheryl 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.’

Hugo Chegwin, who will play Ben, 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.’

The thriller is written by Danny Robbins, and premiered on the West End last year. This year, 2:22 received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play. Robins spoke of Cheryl joining the cast ahead of the production  moving to a new theatre.

He 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.”