Lucie Jones

Last updated

Lucie Jones
Lucie Jones Red Carpet Kyiv 2017.jpg
Jones in Kyiv 2017
Background information
Birth nameLucie Bethan Jones
Born (1991-03-20) 20 March 1991 (age 33)
Pentyrch, Cardiff, Wales
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • model
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2007–present

Lucie Bethan Jones (born 20 March 1991) is a Welsh singer, musical theatre actress, and model. Jones first came to prominence while competing on series 6 of The X Factor UK in 2009, where she finished eighth. She represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Never Give Up on You", finishing with 111 points in 15th place.

Contents

Life and career

Jones was born in Pentyrch, a small village outside Cardiff. [1] In 2007, she attended the World Scout Jamboree as a Scout, and was the main performer singing "Jambo", the theme song of the jamboree. Lucie was also a part of Cardiff's own Scout and Guide Gang Show. In 2017, she married fellow X Factor contestant Ethan Boroian.

The X Factor

Jones auditioned for series 6 of The X Factor UK with the song "I Will Always Love You". She advanced to the live shows, and was mentored by Dannii Minogue. Jones was eliminated in week five, during the final showdown against John & Edward after the result went to deadlock with Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell voting to eliminate Jones while Minogue and Cheryl Cole voted to send home John & Edward. After her elimination, 1,113 viewers complained about Cowell sending the result to deadlock rather than sending home John & Edward in a majority vote.

West End

After being eliminated from The X Factor, Jones was signed to Select Model Management, and began a modelling career. [2] In May 2010, Jones was signed by Cameron Mackintosh to play Cosette in the West End production of Les Misérables . [3] In September 2010, she was revealed to be the face of Wonderbra's Full Effects campaign. [4] In 2010, she appeared in The Sarah Jane Adventures episode, "Lost in Time: Part Two". Jones played the role of Meat in the 2013 arena tour of We Will Rock You . [5] Jones also played the role of Victoria [6] in the musical American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre in December 2013. [7]

In February 2015, Jones appeared as Melody Carver in ITV's Midsomer Murders , in the episode "The Ballad of Midsomer County". In April 2015, Jones played the role of Emma in the showcase performance of Like Me , at The Waterloo East Theatre. [8] In March 2015, she was cast as Molly in the Chinese tour of Ghost the Musical . In April 2016, she played the lead role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Curve. In 2016, she was cast as Maureen Johnson in the UK tour of Rent . Jones appeared in a summer run as Holly in the UK Tour of The Wedding Singer from 20 June to 19 July 2017. [9] Between September 2017 and June 2018 she reprised her role as Elle Woods in a UK tour of Legally Blonde .

Eurovision Song Contest 2017

Jones performs at the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Lucie Jones (United Kingdom) ESC 2017.jpg
Jones performs at the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.

In January 2017, Jones competed in Eurovision: You Decide , the United Kingdom's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Her song, "Never Give Up on You", was co-written by Eurovision Song Contest 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest. [10] On 27 January 2017, Jones won the televised show, and was confirmed to be representing the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, in Kyiv. [11]

Jones's performance was shown in excerpt at the first semi-final of the Eurovision and, following this, betting odds went on to surge. [12] [13] At the Grand Final Jones performed eighteenth in the running order and then, in the second half of the final, went on to score 111 points through combined voting from the jury vote and the popular vote. Jones also managed to score 12 points from the Australia professional Jury. [14] [15] [16] An article in the International Business Times stated that she blamed Brexit for the "disappointing" result though Jones said in a televised interview with the BBC that she had noticed no effect from Brexit in the attitude towards her from fellow contestants and fans of the show. [17]

Return to the West End

Jones made her debut as Jenna in Waitress on 17 June 2019, taking over from Katharine McPhee. [18] For 2 weeks from 13 January 2020, she was briefly replaced by Desi Oakley (who had played Jenna in the US tour) due to an illness that also affected her two understudies. From 27 January to 21 March 2020, the role was to be played by Sara Bareilles for an 8-week run, with Jones stepping back into the role until the show closed on 4 July 2020. [19] However, on 14 March 2020, the show closed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jones reprised the role of Jenna on 4 September 2021 for the rescheduled UK & Ireland tour (originally set to start November 2020).

In Summer 2021, Jones took on the role of Fantine in the West End production of Les Misérables , ending on 29 August 2021 so that she could resume her role as Jenna in Waitress for the 2021/2022 UK Tour, starting on 4 September 2021. [20]

Jones made her debut as Elphaba in Wicked at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre on 1 February 2022. [21] She concluded her run in the show on 4 March 2023, and reprised the role of Fantine in the West End production of Les Miserables on 27 March 2023, taking over the role from Ava Brennan. [22] She was then succeeded by Katie Hall on 25 September. In the summer of 2024 she played the lead role of Genevieve in the musical The Baker’s Wife at The Menier Chocolate Factory in London.

Lucie Jones did a tour with The Fulltone Orchestra in April and May 2023 Lucie Jones & The Fulltone Orchestra 2023.

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
Lucie Jones: Live at the Adelphi [23]
  • Released: 25 September 2020
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Live Here Now

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Believe [24]
  • Released: 15 October 2015
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Jones Entertainment

Singles

SingleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[25]
SCO
[26]
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
(with Rhys Meirion)
2013Cerddwn ymlaen
"Confidence Is Conscienceless"2015Confidence Is Conscienceless
"The Ballad of Midsomer County" Midsomer Murders (Original Television Soundtrack)
"Never Give Up on You"20177329Non-album single
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009 The X Factor HerselfContestant
2010 The Sarah Jane Adventures GemmaTelevision series; 2 episodes
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary Turning Woman 2Television movie
2013Miss ToddMiss ToddShort film
2015 Midsomer Murders Melody CarverTV series, S17E3: "The Ballad of Midsomer County"
2017 Eurovision: You Decide 2017 HerselfContestant
Eurovision Song Contest 2017 United Kingdom representative
2018 Eurovision: You Decide 2018 Guest

Stage

YearTitleRoleTheatreLocation
2010–11 Les Misérables Cosette Queen's Theatre West End
2011The ProdigalsKelly Edinburgh Fringe Festival Edinburgh
2013 We Will Rock You MeatUK Arena Tour
2013–14 American Psycho Victoria/Hardbody Bartender Almeida Theatre West End
2015Broadway to the BayFeatured Soloist Millennium Centre Cardiff
Like Me EmmaWaterloo East Theatre Off West End
Ghost the Musical Molly JensenChina National Tour
2016 Legally Blonde Elle Woods Curve, Leicester Leicester
Musicals UnsungFeatured Soloist The Other Palace Off West End
2016–17 Rent Maureen JohnsonUK National Tour
2017 The Wedding Singer Holly
2017–18 Legally Blonde Elle Woods
2017 A Christmas Carol Emily/Ghost of Christmas Future Old Vic Off West End
2019–20 Waitress Jenna Hunterson Adelphi Theatre West End
2020Lucie Jones - Live at the AdelphiHerself
2020–21 A Christmas Carol The Ghost of Christmas Past Dominion Theatre
2021 Treason The Musical Martha Percy Cadogan Hall London
Les Misérables Fantine [27] Sondheim Theatre West End
Waitress Jenna HuntersonUK National Tour
2022–23 Wicked Elphaba Apollo Victoria Theatre West End
2023, 2024–25 Les Misérables Fantine Sondheim Theatre
2024 The Baker's Wife Genevieve Menier Chocolate Factory Off West End
Pippin [28] Catherine Theatre Royal, Drury Lane West End

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scooch</span> British Eurodance group

Scooch is a British pop group, comprising performers Natalie Powers, Caroline Barnes, David Ducasse and Russ Spencer.

Frances Ruffelle is an English musical theatre actress and singer. She won a Tony Award in 1987, and represented the United Kingdom in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Lonely Symphony ", finishing 10th. The song became a UK Top 30 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koit Toome</span> Estonian singer

Koit Toome, is an Estonian singer and musical actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samantha Barks</span> Manx actress and singer

Samantha Jane Barks is a Manx actress and singer who rose to fame after placing third in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008. She has released three studio albums: Looking in Your Eyes (2007), Samantha Barks (2016), and Into the Unknown (2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest</span>

The United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 66 times. Its first participation was at the second contest, in 1957, and it has entered every year since 1959. The British participant broadcaster in the contest is the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The country has won the contest five times: in 1967, with "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw; in 1969, with "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu ; in 1976, with "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man; in 1981, with "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz; and in 1997, with "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves. The UK has also achieved a record sixteen second-place finishes, the first in 1959 and the most recent in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Lorenzo</span> Spanish musician (born 1982)

Ruth Lorenzo Pascual is a Spanish singer, composer and television personality, best known in the UK for coming fifth in the fifth series of the British TV talent show The X Factor in 2008. She represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Dancing In The Rain", scoring 74 points in the final and finishing in 10th place; the song peaked at #5 in the Spanish Singles Chart And also charted in the UK at #100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh James (singer)</span> British singer

Josh James Dubovie is a British singer. Dubovie is most notable for having represented the UK at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Oslo, Norway, in May 2010, after winning the UK national selection competition with "That Sounds Good to Me", a song by Mike Stock, Pete Waterman and Steve Crosby.

Evelyn Hoskins is an English actress best known for her role as Shona Wark in the British BBC1 hospital drama series Casualty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Garnham</span> English actor

Scott Garnham is an English actor. Notable credits include Billy Elliot The Musical, Les Misérables, Made in Dagenham directed by Rupert Goold, and Pompidou by Matt Lucas for the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmelie de Forest</span> Danish singer

Emmelie Charlotte-Victoria de Forest is a Danish-Swedish singer and songwriter. She represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Only Teardrops" and went on to win the competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saara Aalto</span> Finnish singer, songwriter, and voice actress

Saara Sofia Aalto is a Finnish singer, songwriter and voice actress. In 2012, she came second in the first season of The Voice of Finland.

<i>Waitress</i> (musical) 2016 musical by Sara Bareilles

Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. It is based on the 2007 film, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant with Earl, she begins an affair with her obstetrician, Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out of her troubles, and at the urging of her friends, she enters a pie baking contest, seeing its grand prize as her chance.

Christiana Hadjiiordanous is a Cypriot-born singer and the winner of the 4th season of The X Factor Bulgaria. Since her 2015 participation at the talent show, she became known as Christiana Loizu.

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Never Give Up on You" written by Daniel Salcedo, Emmelie de Forest and Lawrie Martin. The song was performed by Lucie Jones. Songwriter Emmelie de Forest represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Only Teardrops" where she won the competition. The British entry for the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine was selected via the national final Eurovision: You Decide, organised by the British broadcaster BBC. Six acts competed in the national final and the winner was selected through the combination of a public vote and the votes of an eight-member professional jury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slavko Kalezić</span> Montenegrin actor, singer and songwriter (born 1985)

Slavko Kalezić is a Montenegrin actor, singer and songwriter. He took part in X Factor Adria but failed to make it to the live shows. He represented Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Space". In 2017, he took part in the fourteenth series of The X Factor UK, where he was eliminated from the competition at judges' houses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Give Up on You</span> 2017 single by Lucie Jones

"Never Give Up on You" is a song released by Welsh singer Lucie Jones, on 27 January 2017. The song represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. It was written by Daniel Salcedo, Lawrie Martin, and Emmelie de Forest, the latter of whom won the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Only Teardrops". A new version of the song, and music video was released on 11 March 2017. The single peaked at number seventy three on the UK Singles Chart. It finished 15th place with 111 points, giving the United Kingdom their best result in the contest since 2011.

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Storm" written by Nicole Blair, Gil Lewis and Sean Hargreaves. The song was performed by SuRie. The British entry for the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal was selected via the national final Eurovision: You Decide, organised by the British broadcaster BBC. Six acts competed in the national final and the winner was selected through the combination of a public vote and the votes of an eight-member professional jury.

Desiree "Desi" Oakley,, is an American singer and actress, known for her work in musical theatre. She has performed in shows such as Waitress, Chicago, and Wicked.

The United Kingdom returned to compete in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Armenia, which was held on 11 December 2022 in Yerevan. On 25 August 2022, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced that the country would return to the contest after a sixteen-year absence, replacing ITV who previously organised the country’s participation in the contest between 2003 and 2005. Freya Skye was selected as the UK entrant with the song "Lose My Head".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathania Ong</span> Singaporean actress and singer (born 1998)

Nathania Ong is a Singaporean actress and singer. A graduate of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, she made her West End debut in 2021 as Jenna Rolan in Be More Chill.

References

  1. Rewcastle, Elly (28 June 2022). "Lucie Jones: From X Factor to the Land of Oz". Wales Online.
  2. Bumpus, Jessica (21 December 2009). "The Style Factor". British Vogue.
  3. Woodrow, Emily (20 May 2010). "X Factor's Lucie Jones to star in Les Miserables". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  4. "X Factor reject Lucie Jones lands Wonderbra deal". Metro.co.uk. 15 September 2010.
  5. Woodrow, Emily (13 October 2012). "Lucie Jones lands top role in We Will Rock You musical". WalesOnline.
  6. "American Psycho Cast". Almeida.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  7. "Doctor Who's Matt Smith set to regenerate … as American Psycho". The Guardian . 7 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  8. "Lucie Jones, Georgina Hagen Showcase New Social Media Musical LIKE ME at Waterloo East Today". BroadwayWorld. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. "Lucie Jones to join The Wedding Singer UK tour". 11 May 2017.
  10. McIntosh, Steven; Savege, Mark (23 January 2017). "Eurovision 2017: Which former X Factor contestant will represent the UK?". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  11. Granger, Anthony (27 January 2017). "UNITED KINGDOM: LUCIE JONES TO EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2017". Eurovoix.com.
  12. Percival, Ash (11 May 2017). "It Looks Like The UK Could Be in with a Chance of Winning Eurovision After All". HuffPost. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. Duncan, Amy (11 May 2017). "UK now fifth favourite to win Eurovision Song Contest thanks to Lucie Jones". Metro. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  14. Westbrook, Caroline (14 May 2017). "Australia gave the United Kingdom 12 points in the voting and it was aweseome". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  15. "Portugal wins Eurovision for first time as Lucie Jones gets 111 points for UK". Barrhead News. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  16. "Portugal wins Eurovision for first time as Lucie Jones gets 111 points for UK". newsandstar.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  17. Binding, Lucia (15 May 2017). "Lucie Jones blames Brexit for coming 15th place in Eurovision". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  18. Wood, Alex (21 June 2019). "Lucie Jones, Ashley Roberts and Blake Harrison join Waitress in the West End: first look". WhatsOnStage.
  19. Embley, Jochan (4 November 2019). "Sara Bareilles to star in Waitress on the West End in 2020: How to get tickets". standard.co.uk.
  20. Site, That Eurovision (7 June 2021). "🇬🇧 Lucie Jones to appear on Waitress: The Musical Tour". That Eurovision Site. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  21. Thomas, Sophie (17 November 2021). "'Wicked' announces new cast, including Lucie Jones as Elphaba". London Theatre. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  22. "Les Miserables London new cast announced including Lucie Jones, Josh Piterman, Stewart Clarke | WestendTheatre.com". www.westendtheatre.com. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  23. "Lucie Jones: Live at the Adelphi – Album". iTunes Store. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  24. "Believe – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  25. "Lucie Jones | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  26. "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 12 May 2017 – 18 May 2017". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  27. "Lucie Jones on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  28. "Pippin 50th anniversary concert moves dates and venue, Further casting announced including Alex Newell, Patricia Hodge, Lucie Jones, Cedric Neal, Jac Yarrow, Zizi Strallen | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
Preceded by United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
2017
Succeeded by
SuRie
with "Storm"