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that long. The Wanted Their paths d broadcast ve into he Strictly ore moving Up. heir pop careers. “It was a nice time in my life,” says Kimberley. “I’m glad to have those memories, especially the early days – so many hours in the car together, chatting and singing, when we were still doing uni gigs.you’d get ready in the car then they’d pass you a microphone and off you’d go.”
Jay agrees. “Maybe it’s rose-tinted glasses but it was a great way to grow up,” he says.
“It was guys together, tour buses, some wild stuff that you can’t really share. It was so much fun.”
KIMBERLEY trained at theatre school in Bradford, so she has come full circle since her girl band days. Jay also trained in dance and drama but hadn’t given returning to his roots any thought.
“I wasn’t a good planner-ahead-er.then I did Strictly and thought ‘Oh my God, I had this whole other life that I’d forgotten about’.”
Sleepless is less full-on than Big. Kimberley says: “That was all jazz hands, like a proper musical, whereas this is more like a play with songs and it’s a little bit more serious.
“There’s beauty in the simplicity of how it is done. It is very cinematic as it shifts quickly from Sam’s story to Annie’s story, then back again.”
She describes Annie as “a little bit quirky and a little bit crazy”, then deadpans: “I’m not like that at all.” She cries at romantic movies, just as Meg Ryan does in the movie. “But I’m not as emotional as her. I’m much more grounded but that’s why I like playing her because you can let your crazy out.”
Jay notes of Sam: “He’s been left spinning by his wife’s death. Like him I believe love is a powerful thing and I think I’d be similar in that situation.” Jay doesn’t usually talk about his love life but not because he’s cagey. “I probably would mention it if there was anything worth talking about but no one wants to hear about my wild weekends.” (We’ll be the judge of that, Jay!)
They’re both Strictly alumni (she was 2012 runner-up) but won’t be doing any ensemble dance numbers, not now that the big finale is sure to be cut because of safety guidelines.
“I feel very confident to perform again with all the measures in place,” says Kimberley.
Jay adds: “I’m extremely excited and thankful.the show is such a diamond. People who are ready to see live theatre in late August will be met by an extremely grateful cast and crew.as we all know, it’s tough when you can’t do things you know and love, especially when they are tied to your identity, and for a lot of people that’s their job.”
He laughs. “Plus theatre types are very dramatic.there’s been lots of gazing out of windows.”
●Sleepless, A Musical Romance is at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (troubadourtheatres.com), August 25-September 27. NHS and care workers can apply for tickets for the August 27 gala at nhstickets@thisisencore.co.uk