Cheryl successful West End debut has been followed by chaos, just days after she made her first appearance on stage.
The former Girls Aloud singer, 39, was said to be 'excited' to return to the limelight as she took to the stage on Saturday in 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Lyric theatre in Piccadilly in London.
The opening weekend of her three-month stint in the show has received rave reviews so far but the production has now been subject to a last-minute change after one of Cheryl’s co-stars was forced to pull out.
Hugo Chegwin has withdrawn from his role as Ben opposite Cheryl due to illness during the rehearsal period – and has been replaced by EastEnders legend Jake Wood.
People Just Do Nothing star Chegwin, 37, 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.”
Cheryl, who has dropped her previous surnames of Tweedy, Cole and Fernandez-Versini, is making her West End debut as Jenny.
The singer - who shares son Bear, five, with ex Liam Payne – took over from former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore as she took on the role in the supernatural thriller.
The X Factor legend will now star with Jake Wood, who will play her on-stage husband from Thursday, January 26 until the end of the run.
Previews until then will be played by understudy and fellow EastEnders actor Ben Cutler.
Ben has stepped into the role since the first preview on Saturday as illness has ruled Hugo out from the start.
Wood, 50, starred in the original cast alongside singer Lily Allen, Silent House actress Julia Chan and West End actor Hadley Fraser in the production when it opened in the summer of 2021.
Wood, best known for playing Max Branning, said: “It was an honour to originate the role of Ben at the Noel Coward, winning the Whatonstage 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’s 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.”
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