Layton Williams to star in Everybody's Talking About Jamie in the West End

Layton Williams is to take over from John McCrea in Everybody's Talking About Jame in the West End, it has been announced.

The show is currently running at the Apollo Theatre in the West End, starring Michelle Visage who has just taken over as Miss Hedge.

Williams' previous credits include roles in Rent, Billy Elliott and Hairspray and on TV he starred as Kylie in the BBC series Beautiful People. He will play the lead role of 16 year-old Jamie who decides he wants to be a drag queen from 28 January 2019. McCrea will leave the cast on 26 January.

The current cast includes Rebecca McKinnis (Margaret), Shobna Gulati (Ray), Lucie Shorthouse (Pritti Pasha) and Lee Ross (Hugo/Loco Chanel).

Everybody's Talking About Jamie, which first opened at Sheffield Crucible before transferring to the West End in late 2017, won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical earlier this year. It has songs by Dan Gillespie Sells with book and lyrics by Tom MacRae.

It's directed by Jonathan Butterell with design by Anna Fleischle, choreography by Kate Prince, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound design by Paul Groothuis and musical direction by Theo Jamieson. Further casting for January 2019 is yet to be announced.