Gok Wan to star in Back to the Future the Musical in the West End

Back to the Future the Musical has revealed who will make this year’s special cameo for Back to the Future Day!

The WhatsOnStage Award-winning musical opened in London in September 2021 and is now in its fifth year. Recently, the show announced its first-ever UK tour, launching in 2026.

Each October, the show welcomes a guest for an appearance as Principal Strickland. It marks the date that Marty McFly travels to the future in Back to the Future II, 21 October, which is celebrated by fans each year.

Gok Wan will be this year’s guest in the West End, making his appearance at the Adelphi Theatre on 20 October.

The presenter and stylist said, “I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of Back to the Future the Musical for one night only to celebrate Back to the Future Day! Returning to the stage alongside my good friend Brian Conley is such a treat – he’s a true showman and I can’t wait to swap laughs, lines, and a little bit of Hill Valley chaos with him. Great Scott, it’s going to be fabulous!”

The musical is based on the 1985 film and features a book by Bob Gale, with new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard. It includes songs from the film such as “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B Goode”. The production is directed by John Rando, with design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone, sound by Gareth Owen, video by Finn Ross, choreography by Chris Bailey, and illusions by Chris Fisher. Musical supervision is by Nick Finlow, with orchestrations by Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook, and dance arrangements by David Chase. Casting is by David Grindrod.

The current cast also includes Caden Brauch as Marty McFly, Brian Conley as Doctor Emmett Brown (appearing for a strictly limited run), Maddie Grace Jepson as Lorraine Baines, Orlando Gibbs as George McFly, CJ Borger as Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry, Alex Runicles as Biff Tannen, Talia Palamathanan as Jennifer Parker, Lee Ormsby as alternate Doctor Emmett Brown and Strickland, Gracie Caine as Linda McFly, and Liam McHugh as Dave McFly.

Cory English will return to the role of Doctor Emmett Brown on Thursday 6 November 2025.

At select performances, Oliver Halford will play the role of Marty McFly. They are joined by Ryan Appiah-Sarpong, Jed Berry, Billie Bowman, Jabari Braham, Charlotte Coggin, Sia Dauda, Lauren Dawes, Alexander Day, Talia Duff, Helen Gulston, Oliver Halford, Thomas Inge, Stephen Lewis-Johnston, Adam Margilewski, Anna Murray, Samuel Nicholas, Brian Ó’Muirí, Phoebe Roberts, Issie Wilman and Alexandra Wright.

Back to the Future The Musical has won several awards, and has been seen by over 1.9 million people in London and Manchester and broken box office records at the Adelphi Theatre.

The original film starred Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd and grossed over $360 million worldwide. The trilogy has earned over $936 million at the global box office.