Shane Richie To Join the Cast of EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE On the West End

Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the award-winning feel good new musical sensation, has announced that Shane Richie, best known for playing the much-loved Alfie Moon in the BBC's EastEnders will take on the role of Hugo / Loco Chanelle from 28 January until 4 May 2019.

Shane Richie said: 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie is a terrific show so I jumped at the chance to play Hugo / Loco Chanelle. It's so different to any role I've played before and too good an opportunity to miss. I started my career in night clubs and cabaret pubs - the kind of world Hugo inhabits - where I met some wonderful characters. So in a sense I feel like I've met Hugo / Loco Chanelle before. I've had lots of ideas about how to portray the character and sing the songs. As for my dress and heels, hang onto your handbags!'

Nica Burns, Producer of Everybody's Talking About Jamie said: 'We are all delighted that Shane is joining the cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, he's an incredibly talented performer. I know he'll pull out all the stops and make Hugo / Loco Chanelle entirely his own. It's going to be a lot of fun!'

Shane Richie Biography

Shane Richie has had a hugely successful career in theatre, film and television spanning four decades and is a regular fixture on primetime television. He is best known for his role as Alfie Moon in the BBC's EastEnders which he first started playing in 2002 and for which he has won several industry awards and accolades including Best Actor at the Rose d'Or Television Festival.

His extensive television drama credits include Oliver Twist (BBC), New Tricks (BBC), We're Doomed: The Dad's Army Story (BBC), What We Did on Our Holidays (ITV), The Good Samaritan (ITV), As Good As It Gets (ITV), Skins (CH4), Moving On (BBC), Minder (CH5), Redwater (BBC), Benidorm (ITV) and Claude (Disney). He has also hosted television shows including Lucky Numbers (ITV), The Shane Richie Experience (ITV), Win, Lose or Draw (ITV), Don't Forget the Lyrics! (SKY1), Reflex (BBC) and Win Your Wish List (BBC).

On stage Shane has starred in Grease (West End), One Flew over The Cuckoo's Nest (UK Tour), Scrooge: The Musical (UK Tour), Lone Star and Private Wars (Kings Head Theatre). He also played the leads in Peter James' The Perfect Murder and Not Dead Enough. Shane co-wrote and co-produced the UK tour of Boogie Nights which went on to a sell-out season at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. Film roles include Macbeth (CH4), The Reverend (Burn Hand Film), Prisoners of the Sun (Miromar Entertainment) and Flushed Away (Dreamworks Animation).

In 2003 Shane wrote the No.1 autobiography and The Sunday Times best seller Rags to Richie. In the same year he released the No.1 record I'm Your Man for BBC Children In Need. In 2017 Shane's album A Country Soul made it to No.1, securing his position as the UK's biggest selling country artist.

Shane will be joining the cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie from 28 January 2019 when Layton Williams also takes over the role of Jamie New. Further casting is to be announced.

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn't quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation.

Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight. With catchy songs by lead singer- songwriter of The Feeling, Dan Gillespie Sells, and book and lyrics by writer Tom MacRae, this funny, fabulous, feel-good, musical sensation has been wowing audiences and critics alike. Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true.