Jonathan Ansell To Make Musical Theatre Debut In WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND

Jonathan Ansell, who won the heart of the nation as lead vocalist in X-Factor runners-up G4, has been cast in his musical debut, starring in Bill Kenwright's production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down The Wind. The show embarks on a national tour in 2010, opening at the Liverpool Empire from Wednesday January 20.

His dramatic rise to fame comes in the wake of three years of multi-million-selling success with G4, but it is his solo achievements that have sent his career into orbit. In February 2008, his first solo album, Tenor At The Movies, went straight to No 1 in the classical charts, hit Top 10 in the pop album charts, and made him the youngest ever tenor to top the classical charts.

Jonathan, who recently released his second solo album Forever and is currently on a national tour of A Night At The Opera, holds the crown as Britain's most popular and successful young tenor. His exceptional voice, which combines the virtuosity of his classical training with the power and passion of his interpretation, has thrilled vast audiences, won him countless new fans and made him a huge solo star. Now he embarks on his first ever dramatic leading role in a stage musical. And what a leading role it is!

In a twist of fate the bright-eyed and youthful Swallow discovers a mysterious man hiding in her family's barn. When she asks for his identity the first words he utters are 'Jesus Christ'...and it's as though her prayers have been answered. While the rest of the townspeople are searching for a fugitive escaped from jail, Swallow gathers the town's children who make a pact to protect their new found saviour from the cruelties of the outside world.

An extraordinary and uplifting tale, Whistle Down the Wind is based on the beloved sixties film starring Hayley Mills and Alan Bates, and features numerous multi-award-winning songs, including Boyzone's international smash hit No Matter What (which topped the UK charts for 6 weeks).

The musical shows how powerful love can be when the innocence of childhood collides with the cynicism of the adult world. In a stunning combination of multi-award-winning songs, powerful all new staging and epic storytelling, Whistle Down the Wind is a record breaking theatrical sensation that is both mesmerizing and moving.