Cheryl receives standing ovation after ‘phenomenal’ West End debut

The Call My Name hitmaker confirmed her return to the spotlight back in December, announcing that she would be starring as Jenny in 2:22 A Ghost Story, a role previously played by Lily Allen, Giovanna Fletcher, and Laura Whitmore.

Written by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster, the show follows Jenny, who believes her new home is haunted, while her husband Sam is not having any of it.

Cheryl, 39, will be starring in the role from January to April at the Lyric Theatre in London.

First snaps of the performance capture the Geordie star right in the swing of things, certainly not holding back when it comes to emotions.

One shot sees the former X Factor judge standing up and shouting, placing her hand up as a way of conveying anger.

In another, she sits on a sofa with a mug of tea, clearly deep in thought.

A third photo captured Cheryl with a grey blanket draped over her shoulders as she sipped on a glass of wine.

CHERYL Tweedy was forced to delay her West End debut after fans flocked to see her big comeback as rehearsals overran.

Getting into character as Jenny, the pop princess donned a purple floral dress with black boots, and swept her brunette locks back into a messy up do.

Cheryl thinks her broad accent could hamper her acting ambition and admits tgat she needs to master different accents.

The 39-year-old pop star – who shot to fame as part of Girls Aloud – was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne in North-East England, and she admits that it’ll be tough for her to master other accents.

Cheryl – who is currently starring in ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’ at the Lyric Theatre in London – explained to The Independent: “I would have to really hone the craft of learning different accents if I wanted a real serious shot at acting.

“I mean, I’ve been here [in the south of England] for 20 years and I’ve still got a strong Geordie accent. There aren’t many roles I could do with this accent.”

Cheryl is embarking on a four-month stint in London’s West End. But the ‘Fight for This Love’ hitmaker insisted she won’t be worrying about her reviews.

She said: “Why would I? It’s not that I don’t care – I do. But you know, I take supplements and go to the gym and do everything to stay healthy, so why would I then go and fill my mind with trash or toxicity?”

But you don’t have to take our word for it that Cheryl’s first West End show was a roaring success, as audience members have already shared how impressed they were.

One fan captured a video of Cheryl and her fellow cast members taking a bow at the end, with the star beaming with pride as the venue cheered and applauded.

Sharing their thoughts on her acting skills, one praised how Cheryl was able to ‘hold her own’ on the opening night.

‘You were phenomenal’, another tweeted the star.

Tweeting a photo of the queue outside the theatre, one ticket holder wrote: ‘2:22 A Ghost Story was absolutely packed to the brim on opening night to see Cheryl. I had no expectations and she did a good job. Plus I did not clock the twist even after making jokes at the interval.’

Another very satisfied audience member tweeted: ‘That was electric! I got so many goosebumps! @CherylOfficial made her West End Debut and was brilliant as Jenny so were cast members Scott Karim as Sam, Louise Ford as Lauren & Ben Cutler as Ben!’

Written by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster, the show follows Jenny, who believes her new home is haunted, while her husband Sam is not having any of it.

The couple argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben, as belief and scepticism clash.

It’s believed that Cheryl is earning a very nice £1,000 for each show, and the deal will see her earn £100,000 by the time the run ends in spring. Importantly for the star, cheryl is back wirking, in the public eye, getting press and is enjoying the new experience.

Cheryl announced that she was making her West End debut in December conceeding that acting was “totally new” to her, but she was still looking forward to the challenge.

She said: “It is a totally new and exciting experience for me so if you’re looking for a fun night out (and) some entertainment in your new year tickets are available now….whenever you’re ready !! #222aghoststory. (sic)”

Recently the star admitted she would be up for collaborating with ether Kylie Minogue or Dua Lipa.

“Performing’s in my bones, I love that aspect, but the rest of it… not so much. If I could just go out and perform every night, I would be in my element. I’d take Bear out of school, give him a private tutor, and off we’d pop. But it’s not that simple.”

It comes after Cheryl is set to star in 2:22 A Ghost Story which opens tonight at the Lyric Theatre in London and runs until April 2023. Tickets are on sale now.