From boy band stardom to West End leading man and fantasy novelist
In short: Jay McGuiness rose to fame as a vocalist for The Wanted, but his career has since expanded far beyond pop music. From winning the Glitterball on Strictly Come Dancing to starring in major West End musicals and publishing his own fantasy novel, his multifaceted talents continue to evolve.
Born on 24 July 1990 in Newark, Nottinghamshire, Jay McGuiness has built a diverse career spanning pop music, musical theatre, and television. He first gained widespread recognition as one-fifth of the Anglo-Irish boy band The Wanted, a group he joined in 2010 after discovering an audition listing via a simple Google search. Raised in Newark, Nottinghamshire, he went to All Saints RC School. His musical training began at the age of 12 at the Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance.
His television presence reached a peak in 2015 when he partnered with professional dancer Aliona Vilani on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. The duo won the 13th series, with McGuiness's jive in the third week earning 37 out of 40 points—the highest week three score in the show's history. His performance was so impactful that his 'Pulp Fiction' jive was later voted the greatest Strictly dance of all time in a 2020 BBC audience poll. He also won the first series of Celebrity Hunted alongside his bandmate Siva Kaneswaran in 2017. Additionally, he was a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games in 2022.
Beyond the stage and screen, McGuiness has transitioned into acting and literature. He has held leading roles in West End productions such as BIG! The Musical and Sleepless, and appeared in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story. In February 2024, he expanded his creative repertoire further by publishing his debut fantasy novel, 'Blood Flowers', through Scholastic. Despite his varied pursuits, he remains a committed environmentalist and a vegetarian, having been named PETA's Sexiest Male Vegetarian Celebrity in 2013. His theatrical credits include playing Bob Wallace in the touring version of White Christmas. He also performed in Rip It Up at the Garrick Theatre.
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