Eurovision runner-up and social media star Sam Ryder is set to play the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium.
Ryder will make his West End theatre debut in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, with performances running from June to September 2026.
Producers have come under fire for issuing "trigger" warnings over the "onstage depiction of the crucifixion" and scenes which include "some violence".
36-year-old Ryder became a household name in 2022 when his song Space Man earned the UK its best Eurovision result since 1998, finishing second to Ukraine. Prior to his success on the contest, Ryder gained a following by performing song covers on TikTok.
It is not known whether Ryder has a personal faith. In an interview with the BBC, he shared that he played guitar for a Christian rock group called Blessed By A Broken Heart in his early life. He has also described his 2022 Eurovision experience as “like being in a church” because of the “joy” and “togetherness” it brought at the time.
Jesus Christ Superstar first opened on Broadway in 1971, with its London production following a year later. The show, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, brought a modern, rock-infused approach to the story of the final week of Jesus Christ’s life.