April 27th 2024.
It's been a year since the world lost the legendary Paul O'Grady, but his legacy continues to live on. Most recently, he has inspired Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton in his new role on stage. In his portrayal of former performer Loco Chanelle in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Kevin channeled O'Grady's alter ego, Lily Savage, after extensively researching her and the drag artistry world of the 90s.
The real-life story follows Jamie, a schoolboy who overcomes barriers to pursue his dream of becoming a drag queen. Kevin, playing Jamie's mentor Hugo Battersby (aka Loco), takes the audience on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The musical, composed by Dan Gillespie-Sells of The Feeling, has received critical acclaim and is currently on tour.
Kevin's wife, Stacey Dooley, couldn't be prouder of his performance and shared her admiration on social media. She even joked that she deserved some credit for bringing back pedal pusher trousers. This isn't the first time Kevin has wowed audiences, as he made his Broadway debut in 2009 and has since performed in several West End productions.
In 2021, a film adaptation of Everybody's Talking About Jamie was released with the talented Richard E Grant playing Loco. When he was cast, Grant expressed concern about the debate surrounding non-LGBTQ+ actors taking on queer roles. However, the film's director, Jonathan Butterell, reassured him by saying that the entire creative team is gay and believed that Grant had the right qualities for the role.
Kevin gave fans a sneak peek of his drag makeover on Instagram, quoting, "All this is a process of becoming more." Stacey also shared a video of him performing, bursting with pride and calling him a "clever clever star." The couple met on Strictly in 2018 and welcomed their first child, Minnie, in January.
Stacey is now gearing up for her own West End debut in the supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story. Her husband couldn't be more excited and proud, urging everyone to see her in the show. It's clear that this talented couple continues to support and inspire each other in their respective careers.
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