Producers of 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Lyric Theatre in the West End have announced a cast change for the show.
Hugo Chegwin (People Just Do Nothing), son of late TV presenter Keith Chegwin, had been scheduled to play the role of Ben, but has had to pull out of the run due to illness during the rehearsal period.
Chegwin will be replaced by Jake Wood (EastEnders), from 26 January until the end of the run. Wood reprises the role of Ben, for which he won a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The cast also features pop star and former Girls Aloud band member and The X Factor judge Cheryl, plus Scott Karim (The Invisible Hand) and Louise Ford (Crashing, The Windsors).
Jake Wood was in the original cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story when it opened in 2021 at the Noel Coward Theatre also starring Lily Allen, Julia Chan and Hadley Fraser.
The producers of the show said in a statement: “Due to illness during the rehearsal period, Hugo Chegwin has sadly had to withdraw from the production. We are delighted to welcome Jake Wood back to the 2:22 family.”
Jake Wood said: “It was an honour to originate the role of Ben at the Noel Coward, winning the What’s On Stage best supporting performer in a male identifying role in a play Award for 2021, and I am so excited to be rejoining the cast until the end of April. Danny Robins’ script is funny, touching, and so entertaining and easily the best play I have ever read. If you’ve seen the show before, come back and see it again and I promise that you will enjoy it just as much as I know I will the second time around.”
Hugo Chegwin said: “I’ve had the flu. Due to being poorly during the rehearsal period, I’ve had to pull out of the play. I’m absolutely gutted about this and I wish everyone involved in the play the best of luck. The cast are truly amazing.”
Written by Danny Robins with direction by Matthew Dunster, the supernatural thriller has set designs by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher, co-direction by Isabel Marr.
2:22 A Ghost Story is booking at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue until 23 April 2023.
Book tickets to 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Lyric Theatre in London
