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Cheryl under fire after bagging new theatre role despite having no acting experience

CHERYL has come under fire from theatre lovers after bagging a role in the West End – despite having no prior acting experience.

The singer, 39, will take over from TV presenter Laura Whitmore when she joins the new cast for supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story.

Some theatre fans are not convinced by Cheryl's casting
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Some theatre fans are not convinced by Cheryl's casting
Cheryl is best known for being a singer
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Cheryl is best known for being a singer

She will make her stage debut alongside People Just Do Nothing's Hugo Chegwin as Ben, Horrible Histories actress Louise Ford as Lauren and theatre star Scott Karim as Sam for a 14-week run from January 21 at the Lyric Theatre.

Cheryl is not the only celebrity to appear in the production - previous seasons have featured the West End debut of pop star Lily Allen, as well as appearances from Harry Potter's Tom Felton, podcast host Giovanna Fletcher, Busted singer Matt Willis and Inbetweeners actor James Buckley.

But not everyone is happy and have questioned if the role could have gone to a trained actor instead.

One upset theatre goer tweeted: “Such a shame ... A lot of talented trained actresses out there. And then you get her ..getting the part with no experience what so ever.”

Read More on Cheryl

Another remarked: “All those amazing actors who they could have given the role to. Instead, they give it to some 'celeb' who has no acting experience. She might be good, who knows, but if she wants to be an actor, she should start out with amdram.”

“Stunt casting!!!! I would see it again with Cheryl in it and I'm sure she'll be good. But there's so many actors who have poured so much money and effort into preparing for roles like this and deserve to not be overlooked,” said someone else.

Others were more excited at the prospect though and rushed to book tickets.

The show, written by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster, follows Jenny, who believes her new home is haunted, while her husband Sam is not having any of it.

The couple argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben, as belief and scepticism clash.

Cheryl, who has dropped her previous surnames of Tweedy, Cole and Fernandez-Versini, will play the character of Jenny.

On Instagram, she wrote: "I am SO excited to be starring in the west end thriller @222aghoststory !! I will be playing the role of Jenny from January-April!

"I went to see the show with a previous cast and LOVED IT! It is a totally new and exciting experience for me so if you're looking for a fun night out & some entertainment in your new year tickets are available now."

The singer, known for solo hits including Fight For This Love and Call My Name, ended the caption with "Whenever you're ready" adding a winky face emoji, referring to a joke made on Harry Hill's TV Burp from when she was a judge on X Factor in 2010.

The play is moving the Lyric Theatre for its fifth season. Its previous runs have been at the Noel Coward, Gielgud and Criterion theatres.

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