Lucie Jones

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.

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

Life and career

Jones was born in Pentyrch, a small village outside Cardiff. 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.[1] In May 2010, Jones was signed by Cameron Mackintosh to play Cosette in the West End production of Les Misérables.[2] In September 2010, she was revealed to be the face of Wonderbra's Full Effects campaign.[3] 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.[4] Jones also played the role of Victoria[5] in the musical American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre in December 2013.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.

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.[9] 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.[10]

Jones's performance was shown in excerpt at the first semi-final of the Eurovision and, following this, betting odds went on to surge.[11][12] 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.[13][14][15] 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.[16]

Return to the West End

Jones made her debut as Jenna in Waitress on 17 June 2019, taking over from Katharine McPhee.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

Jones made her debut as Elphaba in Wicked at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre on 1 February 2022.[20] 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.[21] She was then succeeded by Katie Hall on 25th September.

Lucie Jones did a tour with The Fulltone Orchestra in April and May 2023 https://fto.org.uk/lucie/.

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
Lucie Jones: Live at the Adelphi[22]
  • Released: 25 September 2020
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Live Here Now

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Believe[23]
  • Released: 15 October 2015
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Jones Entertainment

Singles

SingleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[24]
SCO
[25]
"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
2009The X FactorHerselfContestant
2010The Sarah Jane AdventuresGemmaTelevision series; 2 episodes
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th AnniversaryTurning Woman 2Television movie
2013Miss ToddMiss ToddShort film
2015Midsomer MurdersMelody CarverTV series, S17E3: “The Ballad of Midsomer County”
2017Eurovision: You Decide 2017HerselfContestant
Eurovision Song Contest 2017United Kingdom representative
2018Eurovision: You Decide 2018Guest

Stage

YearTitleRoleTheatreLocation
2010–11Les MisérablesCosetteQueen's TheatreWest End
2011The ProdigalsKellyEdinburgh Fringe FestivalEdinburgh
2013We Will Rock YouMeatUK Arena Tour
2013–14American PsychoVictoria/Hardbody BartenderAlmeida TheatreWest End
2015Broadway to the BayFeatured SoloistMillennium CentreCardiff
Like MeEmmaWaterloo East TheatreOff West End
Ghost the MusicalMolly JensenChina National Tour
2016Legally BlondeElle WoodsCurve, LeicesterLeicester
Musicals UnsungFeatured SoloistThe Other PalaceOff West End
2016–17RentMaureen JohnsonUK National Tour
2017The Wedding SingerHolly
2017–18Legally BlondeElle Woods
2017A Christmas CarolEmily/Ghost of Christmas FutureOld VicLondon
2019–20WaitressJenna HuntersonAdelphi TheatreWest End
2020Lucie Jones - Live at the AdelphiHerself
2020-21A Christmas CarolThe Ghost of Christmas PastDominion Theatre
2021Treason The MusicalMartha PercyCadogan HallLondon
Les MisérablesFantine[26]Sondheim TheatreWest End
WaitressJenna HuntersonUK National Tour
2022–2023WickedElphabaApollo Victoria TheatreWest End
2023Les MisérablesFantineSondheim Theatre
2024Pippin[27]CatherineTheatre Royal, Drury Lane

References

Preceded by United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
2017
Succeeded by
SuRie
with "Storm"