Two EastEnders and Hollyoaks fan-favourite stars have teamed up for a surprising new theatre project.
EastEnders’ very own James Bye, whose Martin Fowler recently left the Square in dramatic anniversary scenes, and Hollyoaks actor Gary Lucy, who played Luke Morgan on the Channel 4 soap, are taking to the boards in a beloved play.
Both stars are the latest additions to the 2026 UK tour of horror play 2:22 A Ghost Story, which has seen the likes of Lily Allen, Sophia Bush, James Buckley, Stephanie Beatriz take to the West End stage in the past.
Next year’s run will see Bye take on the role of Sam, while Lucy will play Ben. The two actors join Natalie Casey as Lauren and Shvorne Marks as Jenny.
In 2026, Marks will switch things up from the current tour, in which she appears as Lauren.
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The tour, directed by Matthew Dunster and Gabriel Vega Weissman and written by Danny Robins, is set to open at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate on 8 January and runs until June.
The formula to 2:22 remains unaltered, building up to a big, scary reveal when the clock strikes the titular time.
The play centres on two couples reuniting for a dinner party at Jenny and Sam’s house.
Jenny, who believes her home is haunted, convinces her skeptical husband and their friends Lauren and Ben to stay up until 2:22 to see if she’s right.
Currently on a UK tour, the play stars Stacey Dooley as Jenny and Kevin Clifton as Sam, with Grant Kilburn and Marks playing Ben and Lauren.
Runaway Entertainment/Ryan Seamus
Elsewhere on the stage, two Strictly pros have announced they’ll be dancing together in a new show.
Real-life couple Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara will debut in 2026 for Let’s Face The Music…and Dance!, a brand new show which serves as an “evocative tribute [to] the composers, songwriters and record producers whose artistry behind the scenes has transcended generations.”
The 2026 UK tour of 2:22 A Ghost Story kicks off at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate on 8 January and runs until June. Tickets are available now.
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