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{{short description|British singer and songwriter}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jay McGuiness
| name = Jay McGuiness
| background = solo_singer
| image = Jay McGuiness 2012.jpg
| image = Jay McGuiness 2012.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = McGuiness in 2012
| caption = McGuiness in 2012
| birth_name = James McGuiness
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|07|24}}{{cn|date=October 2024}}
| birth_name = James McGuiness
⚫
| birth_place =
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|7|24|df=n}}
| origin = [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]], Nottinghamshire, England
⚫
| birth_place =
| origin = [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]], [[Nottinghamshire]], England.
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter.actor}}
⚫
| instrument = Vocals
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = [[Vocals]]
| years_active = 2009–present
| years_active = 2009–present
| label =
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Wanted]]
⚫
| label =
⚫
| website =
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Wanted]]
⚫
| website =
}}
}}


'''James "Jay" McGuiness''' (born 24 July 1990) is a British singer and songwriter, best known as a vocalist with [[boy band]] [[The Wanted]]. On 19 December 2015, partnered with [[Aliona Vilani]], he won the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 13)|13th series]] of BBC's ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''.
'''James "Jay" McGuiness''' (born 24 July 1990) is a British singer, songwriter, actor and author best known as a vocalist with boy band [[The Wanted]]. In 2015, partnered with [[Aliona Vilani]], he won the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 13)|13th series]] of BBC's ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]''. In February 2024 Jay’s debut fantasy novel ‘Blood Flowers’ was published worldwide by Scholastic.


McGuiness has forged a career in musical theatre starring in ''[[Big (musical)|BIG! The Musical]]'' at the [[Dominion Theatre]] in London's West End, ''[[Sleepless in Seattle|Sleepless - A Musical romance]]'' at the Troubador Theatre and ''Rip It Up'' at the [[Garrick Theatre]]. In 2022 McGuiness took the lead role of Bob Wallace in the touring musical version of the classic movie ''[[White Christmas (film)|White Christmas]]''.<ref name="Mayo 2022 e492">{{cite web | last=Mayo | first=Douglas | title=White Christmas Tour 2022 - Irving Berlin's classic musical live | website=British Theatre | date=2022-10-17 | url=https://britishtheatre.com/white-christmas-tour/ | access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref> In 2024, Jay landed the role of Ben in the award winning play ''[[2:22 A Ghost Story]]''. McGuiness is a committed conservationist and environmentalist.
⚫
On 10 October 2017, McGuiness joined the first series of ''[[Hunted (2015 TV series)|Celebrity Hunted]]'' along with former bandmate [[Siva Kaneswaran]], they won the series on 31 October 2017.


==Early life==
==Early life==
McGuiness grew up in [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]], [[Nottinghamshire]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-Wanted-Jay-McGuiness/story-12172147-detail/story.html|title=Notts Most Wanted: Jay McGuiness|access-date=2015-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224124442/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-Wanted-Jay-McGuiness/story-12172147-detail/story.html|archive-date=2015-12-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> and attended [[All Saints RC School]], [[Mansfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Screaming-girls-greet-singer-who-goes-back-to |title=Screaming girls greet singer who goes back to school |publisher=Newark Advertiser |date=23 July 2010 |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135222/http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Screaming-girls-greet-singer-who-goes-back-to |archive-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has a fraternal twin brother, Thomas and three other siblings.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
McGuiness grew up in [[Newark-on-Trent|Newark]], Nottinghamshire,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-Wanted-Jay-McGuiness/story-12172147-detail/story.html|title=Notts Most Wanted: Jay McGuiness|access-date=1 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224124442/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-Wanted-Jay-McGuiness/story-12172147-detail/story.html|archive-date=24 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and attended [[All Saints RC School]], [[Mansfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Screaming-girls-greet-singer-who-goes-back-to |title=Screaming girls greet singer who goes back to school |publisher=Newark Advertiser |date=23 July 2010 |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135222/http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Screaming-girls-greet-singer-who-goes-back-to |archive-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has a twin brother, and three other siblings.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}


From the age of 12, he pursued his love of performing by attending the Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance in Newark. As his love for the performing arts grew he attended the prestigious Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in [[Carlton, Nottinghamshire|Carlton]] near [[Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=Jay McGuiness Wanted on the Strictly dance floor |publisher=BBC }}</ref>
From the age of 12, he pursued his love of performing by attending the Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance in Newark. As his love for the performing arts grew he attended the prestigious Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in [[Carlton, Nottinghamshire|Carlton]] near [[Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=Jay McGuiness Wanted on the Strictly dance floor |publisher=BBC }}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
⚫
McGuiness is known as one fifth of Anglo-Irish boy band The Wanted. He has been a member of the band since 2010, alongside Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. He discovered the band by [[Google|Googling]] 'auditions' and getting two results, one for a circus and one for the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Jay McGuiness|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=Strictly Come Dancing - Jay McGuinnes - BBC One|work=BBC|access-date=2015-12-07}}</ref>


=== The Wanted ===
On 2 December 2017, McGuiness appeared on BBC's ''[[Pointless|Pointless Celebrities]].''<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07xn2vc/pointless-celebrities-series-10-7-strictly] {{dead link|date=July 2020}}</ref>
⚫
McGuiness is known as one fifth of Anglo-Irish boy band The Wanted. He has been a member of the band since 2010, alongside Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. He discovered the band by [[Google|Googling]] 'auditions' and getting two results, one for a circus and one for the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Jay McGuiness|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3h3zdKvSyYPpfMYCwxlQb9j/jay-mcguiness|title=Strictly Come Dancing – Jay McGuinnes – BBC One|work=BBC|access-date=7 December 2015}}</ref>


⚫
In October 2017, McGuiness won the first series of ''[[Celebrity Hunted]]'' alongside bandmate [[Siva Kaneswaran]].
⚫
In October 2018 McGuiness appeared at the [[London Palladium]] in the show ''Rip it Up the 60s'', alongside [[Harry Judd]], [[Aston Merrygold]] and [[Louis Smith (gymnast)|Louis Smith]]. The show then transferred to the ''[[Garrick Theatre]]''.<ref>[https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/rip-it-up-the-60’s-to-transfer-to-the-garrick-theatre] {{dead link|date=July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ripituptheshow.com/home|title=Rip It Up The Show|website=Ripituptheshow.com|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref>
===''Strictly Come Dancing''===
===''Strictly Come Dancing''===
On 24 August 2015, McGuiness was confirmed as a celebrity contestant in the BBC's ''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 13)|Strictly Come Dancing]]''. He was partnered with professional dancer [[Aliona Vilani]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/11849203/Jay-McGuiness-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2015-contestant.html |title=Jay McGuiness: Strictly Come Dancing 2015 contestant |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/06/strictly-come-dancing-curse-aliona-vilani-husband-jay-mcguinness_n_8251988.html |title='Strictly Come Dancing': Aliona Vilani 'Argues With Husband Vincent Kavanagh' After Being Snapped With Partner Jay McGuiness |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |access-date=2015-12-05}}</ref> In the third week of competition, he was awarded a total of 37 points out of 40, the highest week 3 score in the history of the competition, for his [[Jive (dance)|jive]]. He also received the first 10 of the series. In week 6, he danced an [[American Smooth]] to "[[Li'l Red Riding Hood]]" by [[Sam the Sham|Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs]] and scored 34, putting him in second place by only one point.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/177a1c34-51d0-4255-b327-4d8dd4bc52be |title=BBC Blogs - Strictly Come Dancing - Halloween Week Leader Board Recap |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=7 November 2015 |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> In week 10 he danced a [[tango]] to "[[When Doves Cry]]" by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and scored 38. In Week 11 he danced a [[Rhumba|rumba]] to "[[Falling Slowly]]", from the musical ''[[Once (musical)|Once]]'', and scored 39, putting him at the top. In the semi-final his [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]] scored 37. In the final, on 19 December 2015, the couple danced a [[Quickstep]] to "[[My Generation]]" by [[The Who]], scoring 36, a showdance to "[[Can't Feel My Face]]" by [[The Weeknd]], scoring 35, and a [[Pasodoble]] to "[[It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)|It's My Life]]" by [[Bon Jovi]], scoring 39. In the public vote the couple were voted the series winners, gaining the Glitterball trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/12060194/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2015-moment-Jay-McGuiness-and-Aliona-Vilani-win-the-show.html|title=Video: Strictly Come Dancing 2015: moment Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani win the show|date=19 December 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]]|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>
On 24 August 2015, McGuiness was confirmed as a celebrity contestant in the BBC's ''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 13)|Strictly Come Dancing]]''. He was partnered with professional dancer [[Aliona Vilani]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/11849203/Jay-McGuiness-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2015-contestant.html |title=Jay McGuiness: Strictly Come Dancing 2015 contestant |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/06/strictly-come-dancing-curse-aliona-vilani-husband-jay-mcguinness_n_8251988.html |title='Strictly Come Dancing': Aliona Vilani 'Argues With Husband Vincent Kavanagh' After Being Snapped With Partner Jay McGuiness |date=6 October 2015 |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> In the third week of competition, he was awarded a total of 37 points out of 40, the highest week 3 score in the history of the competition, for his [[Jive (dance)|jive]], to "[[You Never Can Tell (song)|You Never Can Tell]]" & "[[Misirlou]]", receiving the first 10 of the series. In week 6, he danced an [[American Smooth]] to "[[Li'l Red Riding Hood]]" by [[Sam the Sham]] and the Pharaohs and scored 34, putting him in second place by only one point.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/177a1c34-51d0-4255-b327-4d8dd4bc52be |title=BBC Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Halloween Week Leader Board Recap |publisher=BBC |date=7 November 2015 |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> In week 10 he danced a [[tango]] to "[[When Doves Cry]]" by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and scored 38. In Week 11 he danced a [[Rhumba|rumba]] to "[[Falling Slowly]]", from the musical ''[[Once (musical)|Once]]'', and scored 39, putting him at the top. In the semi-final his [[Charleston (dance)|Charleston]] scored 37. In the final, on 19 December 2015, the couple danced a [[quickstep]] to "[[My Generation]]" by [[The Who]], scoring 36, a showdance to "[[Can't Feel My Face]]" by [[The Weeknd]], scoring 35, and a [[pasodoble]] to "[[It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)|It's My Life]]" by [[Bon Jovi]], scoring 39. In the public vote the couple were voted the series winners, gaining the Glitterball trophy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/12060194/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2015-moment-Jay-McGuiness-and-Aliona-Vilani-win-the-show.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219231711/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/12060194/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2015-moment-Jay-McGuiness-and-Aliona-Vilani-win-the-show.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2015|title=Video: Strictly Come Dancing 2015: moment Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani win the show|date=19 December 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=20 December 2015}}</ref>

In 2020, the BBC ran an audience poll for the greatest Strictly dance of all time as part of the 2020 Christmas special. Jay's ‘Pulp Fiction’ Jive topped the poll as viewers favourite Strictly routine ever. [https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/strictly-come-dancing-winners-jay-mcguiness-poll/amp/]
;''Strictly Come Dancing'' performances
;''Strictly Come Dancing'' performances
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|}

=== Theatre ===
In 2018 he made his West End debut in Big The Musical at the [[Dominion Theatre]], a musical remake of the 1988 film Big starring Tom Hanks.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 September 2019 |title='Big', Dominion Theatre review: Kimberley Walsh is a knockout in zestful production with an uncynical spirit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/big-musical-west-end-dominion-theatre-jay-mcguiness-kimberley-walsh-tom-hanks-cast-a9110356.html |website=[[Independent.co.uk]]}}</ref> He played Josh Baskin, the character made famous by Hanks, and co starred with [[Kimberley Walsh]], [[Matthew Kelly]], and [[Wendi Peters]].

⚫
In October 2018 McGuiness appeared at the [[London Palladium]] in the show ''Rip it Up the 60s'', alongside [[Harry Judd]], [[Aston Merrygold]] and [[Louis Smith (gymnast)|Louis Smith]]. The show then transferred to the [[Garrick Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2018 |title=Rip It up – the 60's to transfer to the Garrick Theatre |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/rip-it-up-the-60s-to-transfer-to-the-garrick-theatre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511090201/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/rip-it-up-the-60s-to-transfer-to-the-garrick-theatre |archive-date=11 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 March 2016 |title=Rip It Up The Show |url=https://www.ripituptheshow.com/home |access-date=31 July 2020 |website=Ripituptheshow.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hutera |first1=Donald |date=9 August 2023 |title=Review: Rip It Up — The 60s at the Garrick Theatre, WC2 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/review-rip-it-up-the-60s-at-the-garrick-theatre-wc2-m6blgfsjl}}</ref>

October 2019 saw McGuiness land the leading role in the West End musical ''BIG!'', playing the role of Josh Baskin, made famous by Tom Hanks in the hit movie.

In 2020 McGuiness starred in ''Sleepless'', the musical adaptation of the 1993 movie ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'', at the Wembley Park Troubadour Theatre. Reuniting with his Big co-star Kimberley Walsh, also featuring [[Harriet Thorpe]] and [[Cory English|Corey English]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Clive |date=9 August 2023 |title=Sleepless: A Musical Romance review — a dream of a feelgood treat without all the schmaltz |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sleepless-a-musical-romance-review-a-dream-of-a-feelgood-treat-without-all-the-schmaltz-3jzk26260}}</ref>

In 2022, McGuiness starred in the touring production of ''White Christmas'' playing the role of Bob Wallace.

Also in 2022, he took part in and won [[Richard Osman]]'s ''House of Games'' on BBC television, following a tense daily battle with fellow contestant [[Bobby Seagull]].

In January 2023, Jay took the role of Ben in the UK tour of the award winning play 2:22 - A Ghost Story.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
McGuiness is [[vegetarian]], although he has described himself as "not a militant vegetarian by any means".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jaymcguiness/status/580832225589010433?lang=en|title=I'm not a militant vegetarian by any means, but please watch this before your next |first=Jay|last=McGuiness|date=25 March 2015|website=Twitter.com|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> He was named [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA's]] Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Wanted's Jay McGuiness Named World's Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity|url = http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/the-wanted/news/sexiest-vegetarian-2013/|website=Capitalfm.com }}</ref>
McGuiness is vegetarian, although he has described himself as "not a militant vegetarian by any means".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jaymcguiness/status/580832225589010433?lang=en|title=I'm not a militant vegetarian by any means, but please watch this before your next |first=Jay|last=McGuiness|date=25 March 2015|website=Twitter.com|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> He was named [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA's]] Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=The Wanted's Jay McGuiness Named World's Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity |url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/the-wanted/news/sexiest-vegetarian-2013/ |access-date=2020-06-03 |publisher=Capital FM}}</ref>
He can play the [[drum kit|drums]].


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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! Title
! Title
! Role
! Role
! Notes
|-
|-
| 2016–2017
| 2016–2017
| ''[[Big (musical)|Big The Musical]]''
| ''[[Big (musical)|Big The Musical]]''
| Josh Baskin
| Josh Baskin
|
|-
|-
| 2025
| ''[[& Juliet]]'''
| William Shakespeare
| UK Tour
|}
|}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuiness, Jay}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuiness, Jay}}
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:English pop singers]]
[[Category:English pop singers]]
[[Category:Strictly Come Dancing winners]]
[[Category:Strictly Come Dancing winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Newark-on-Trent]]
[[Category:Actors from Newark-on-Trent]]
[[Category:21st-century English singers]]
[[Category:21st-century English singers]]
[[Category:The Wanted members]]
[[Category:Male actors from Nottinghamshire]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 21 December 2024

Jay McGuiness
McGuiness in 2012
McGuiness in 2012
Background information
Birth nameJames McGuiness
Born (1990-07-24) 24 July 1990 (age 34)[citation needed]
OriginNewark, Nottinghamshire, England
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter.actor
InstrumentVocals
Years active2009–present

James "Jay" McGuiness (born 24 July 1990) is a British singer, songwriter, actor and author best known as a vocalist with boy band The Wanted. In 2015, partnered with Aliona Vilani, he won the 13th series of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In February 2024 Jay’s debut fantasy novel ‘Blood Flowers’ was published worldwide by Scholastic.

McGuiness has forged a career in musical theatre starring in BIG! The Musical at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End, Sleepless - A Musical romance at the Troubador Theatre and Rip It Up at the Garrick Theatre. In 2022 McGuiness took the lead role of Bob Wallace in the touring musical version of the classic movie White Christmas.[1] In 2024, Jay landed the role of Ben in the award winning play 2:22 A Ghost Story. McGuiness is a committed conservationist and environmentalist.

Early life

McGuiness grew up in Newark, Nottinghamshire,[2] and attended All Saints RC School, Mansfield.[3] He has a twin brother, and three other siblings.[citation needed]

From the age of 12, he pursued his love of performing by attending the Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance in Newark. As his love for the performing arts grew he attended the prestigious Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in Carlton near Nottingham.[4]

Career

The Wanted

McGuiness is known as one fifth of Anglo-Irish boy band The Wanted. He has been a member of the band since 2010, alongside Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. He discovered the band by Googling 'auditions' and getting two results, one for a circus and one for the band.[5][6]

In October 2017, McGuiness won the first series of Celebrity Hunted alongside bandmate Siva Kaneswaran.

Strictly Come Dancing

On 24 August 2015, McGuiness was confirmed as a celebrity contestant in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with professional dancer Aliona Vilani.[7][8] In the third week of competition, he was awarded a total of 37 points out of 40, the highest week 3 score in the history of the competition, for his jive, to "You Never Can Tell" & "Misirlou", receiving the first 10 of the series. In week 6, he danced an American Smooth to "Li'l Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs and scored 34, putting him in second place by only one point.[9] In week 10 he danced a tango to "When Doves Cry" by Prince and scored 38. In Week 11 he danced a rumba to "Falling Slowly", from the musical Once, and scored 39, putting him at the top. In the semi-final his Charleston scored 37. In the final, on 19 December 2015, the couple danced a quickstep to "My Generation" by The Who, scoring 36, a showdance to "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd, scoring 35, and a pasodoble to "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi, scoring 39. In the public vote the couple were voted the series winners, gaining the Glitterball trophy.[10]

In 2020, the BBC ran an audience poll for the greatest Strictly dance of all time as part of the 2020 Christmas special. Jay's ‘Pulp Fiction’ Jive topped the poll as viewers favourite Strictly routine ever. [1]

Strictly Come Dancing performances
Week # Dance/Song Judges' scores Total Result
Revel Horwood Bussell Goodman Tonioli
1 Cha-Cha-Cha / "Reach Out, I'll Be There" 5 8 7 7 27 No Elimination
2 Waltz / "See the Day" 7 8 8 8 31 Safe
3 Jive / "Misirlou/You Never Can Tell" 9 9 9 10 37 Safe
4 Quickstep / "My Generation" 5 7 6 7 25 Safe
5 Paso Doble / "It's My Life" 8 9 8 8 33 Safe
6 American Smooth / "Li'l Red Riding Hood" 8 9 8 9 34 Safe
7 Argentine Tango / "Diferente" 8 9 8 9 34 Safe
8 Foxtrot / "Lay Me Down" 6 8 8 8 30 Safe
9 Salsa / "Cuba" 9 9 9 9 36 Safe
10 Tango / "When Doves Cry" 9 10 9 10 38 Safe
Quickstep-athon / "Sing, Sing, Sing" Awarded 3 Extra Points 41
11 Rumba / "Falling Slowly" 9 10 10 10 39 Safe
12 Viennese Waltz / "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" 8 9 8 9 34 Safe
Charleston / "Doctor Jazz" 9 9 9 10 37
13 Quickstep / "My Generation" 9 9 9 9 36 Winner
Showdance / "Can't Feel My Face" 8 9 9 9 35
Paso Doble / "It's My Life" 9 10 10 10 39

Theatre

In 2018 he made his West End debut in Big The Musical at the Dominion Theatre, a musical remake of the 1988 film Big starring Tom Hanks.[11] He played Josh Baskin, the character made famous by Hanks, and co starred with Kimberley Walsh, Matthew Kelly, and Wendi Peters.

In October 2018 McGuiness appeared at the London Palladium in the show Rip it Up the 60s, alongside Harry Judd, Aston Merrygold and Louis Smith. The show then transferred to the Garrick Theatre.[12][13][14]

October 2019 saw McGuiness land the leading role in the West End musical BIG!, playing the role of Josh Baskin, made famous by Tom Hanks in the hit movie.

In 2020 McGuiness starred in Sleepless, the musical adaptation of the 1993 movie Sleepless in Seattle, at the Wembley Park Troubadour Theatre. Reuniting with his Big co-star Kimberley Walsh, also featuring Harriet Thorpe and Corey English.[15]

In 2022, McGuiness starred in the touring production of White Christmas playing the role of Bob Wallace.

Also in 2022, he took part in and won Richard Osman's House of Games on BBC television, following a tense daily battle with fellow contestant Bobby Seagull.

In January 2023, Jay took the role of Ben in the UK tour of the award winning play 2:22 - A Ghost Story.

Personal life

McGuiness is vegetarian, although he has described himself as "not a militant vegetarian by any means".[16] He was named PETA's Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity in 2013.[17]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Chasing the Saturdays Himself Episode: "DeepFriedSats"
The Wanted Life
2015 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Series 13
2017 Celebrity Hunted Contestant Series 1

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2016–2017 Big The Musical Josh Baskin
2025 & Juliet' William Shakespeare UK Tour

References

  1. ^ Mayo, Douglas (17 October 2022). "White Christmas Tour 2022 - Irving Berlin's classic musical live". British Theatre. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Notts Most Wanted: Jay McGuiness". Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Screaming girls greet singer who goes back to school". Newark Advertiser. 23 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Jay McGuiness Wanted on the Strictly dance floor". BBC.
  5. ^ "BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Jay McGuiness". BBC.
  6. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing – Jay McGuinnes – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Jay McGuiness: Strictly Come Dancing 2015 contestant". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  8. ^ "'Strictly Come Dancing': Aliona Vilani 'Argues With Husband Vincent Kavanagh' After Being Snapped With Partner Jay McGuiness". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  9. ^ "BBC Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Halloween Week Leader Board Recap". BBC. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Video: Strictly Come Dancing 2015: moment Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani win the show". The Daily Telegraph. 19 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. ^ "'Big', Dominion Theatre review: Kimberley Walsh is a knockout in zestful production with an uncynical spirit". Independent.co.uk. 18 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Rip It up – the 60's to transfer to the Garrick Theatre". 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Rip It Up The Show". Ripituptheshow.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  14. ^ Hutera, Donald (9 August 2023). "Review: Rip It Up — The 60s at the Garrick Theatre, WC2".
  15. ^ Davis, Clive (9 August 2023). "Sleepless: A Musical Romance review — a dream of a feelgood treat without all the schmaltz".
  16. ^ McGuiness, Jay (25 March 2015). "I'm not a militant vegetarian by any means, but please watch this before your next". Twitter.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  17. ^ "The Wanted's Jay McGuiness Named World's Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity". Capital FM. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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