Layton Williams to replace John McCrea as titular character in ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’
The actor is best known for starring alongside Jack Whitehall in 'Bad Education'
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Layton Williams is to take over the title role in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
The actor – who is best known for starring alongside Jack Whitehall in the BBC comedy Bad Education – is set to be replacing the original Jamie, John McCrea, in the award-winning West End musical.
Nica Burns, producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Layton Williams as only our second Jamie as we say goodbye to the wonderful John McCrea, who created the role and leaves the cast on January 26, 2019.
“Layton is a supremely talented actor, singer and dancer with a long list of credits. He is equally at home on TV in series like Beautiful People and Bad Education as he is on stage in roles such as Angel in Rent and Seaweed in Hairspray.
“I’m sure he will make the role of Jamie very much his own.”
Based on a 2011 BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie premiered at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in February 2017 before transferring to the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End last November.
The uplifting story – which is based on Jamie’s own life – follows a 16-year-old schoolboy who dreams of becoming a drag queen and features music by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie-Sells.
RuPaul Drag Race judge Michelle Visage was revealed to be taking on the role as Miss Hedge for a limited run.
Further casting for January 2019 is to be announced.