Hair’ The Musical
“As Berger, Jake Quickenden is exuberant and has an almost other-worldly characteristic that is magnetic.” Wimbledon Theatre - (WestEndWilma.com)
“Theatrical Gold”- (The Metro)
“Jake Quickenden takes command Of the Stage” - (North West End)
Jake hails from Scunthorpe.
Music and Sport have always been his life. He played for Scunthorpe under 16's until a broken leg put paid to those plans for a while. By that time, Jake had started writing his own songs, and the music was edging to the forefront.
When he was younger Jake had begun to show real music flair and his parents bought him a keyboard and later a guitar. As a youngster he grew up listening to his father’s favourite groups, Johnny Cash and The Beatles.
However, a second chance at football presented itself and he was invited to trial in Australia for the ‘Sunshine George Cross’ Team and also ‘Bentley Greens’. This culminated with Jake flying out to Melbourne and playing for two seasons there.
He enjoyed the life in Australia, but unfortunately his father had been taken ill and he returned to the UK. On his return, he took up golf and continued with various sports as well as working as a lifeguard in a local swimming centre. Jake’s singing, writing, and performing were beginning to become a big part of his life his musical influences were and still are, Usher, Craig David, Ben Howard, Damien Rice, Matt Corby and Ed Sheeran.
His family had suggested that he audition for X Factor in 2012, however, when Jake saw the massive queues, he very nearly turned back, but stayed and not only got through the first stages, but eventually won a coveted spot on Nicole Scherzinger's team going through to Judges Houses! (Gary Barlow had commented at the audition, "Love your voice" and "love your image", Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the Live Shows, but this was not the end of X Factor for Jake though!
With management on board, they secured Jake a TV opportunity as a presenter for Chart Show Dance, and Chart Show TV. It was an exciting week when he was the anchor man for Chart Show Dance TV from Ibiza.
This led to Jake co-hosting The Chart Show TV on a regular basis, including presenting from Wireless Music Festival backstage.
A second opportunity for X Factor hotly followed, where he was eventually chosen by Mel B for Judges Houses and this time won a coveted spot through to Live Shows.
With his then surprise early vote off from X Factor, Jake's management immediately contacted, ‘I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’. The production team were preparing to fly out to commence filming the 2015 TV series, and at the last hour, the producers agreed to see Jake. Excitingly, the TV producers saw the same entertaining flair in Jake as his management did. After contracts were signed, it was a rush to fly him out to Australia which culminated with him reaching the exciting final.
Summer 2015 saw Jake release his first EP titled ‘I Want You’, followed by his own UK live tour, alongside his ever-growing TV commitments.
He became a regular guest on ITV Lorraine & Loose Women also a regular panellist on Big Brothers Bit on The Side.
In 2015 Jake fronted the ‘Children in Need Campaign’ alongside Rylan Clark and Ashley Roberts.
2016 saw Jake continuing his charity commitments, including a trek across Iceland for the NSPCC.
Fitness has always been very important to Jake which led him to being an ambassador for Holland and Barrett.
Jake released new music from his six track EP, 'New Chapter' early summer 2016 and included two terrific dance remixes. This EP he toured in the UK at the end of the year.
A co presenting slot alongside ‘Lorraine’ on her ITV Morning TV Show was a real opportunity for Jake at ITV. Not only was he ‘Jungle Jake’ talking to guests re I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, he was also thrilled to be asked to travel the Country presenting Lorraine’s very Special ‘Kelly’s Hero Awards ‘to really deserving (unsuspecting!) people, and dovetailing it all via links into the Lorraine Studio.
This was all live TV and Jake really enjoyed it and felt very at home on this type of outside broadcast.
Alongside other TV work, Channel 4’s ‘The Jump’, asked Jake to fly out to the mountains ready to step in if needed. He really enjoyed all the training, learning to ski.
Spring 2017 saw Jake heading up a major press Charity Campaign for The British Heart Foundation.
Time in the recording studio followed with him writing new songs, and June 2017 saw the release of ‘Ineffable’ followed with ‘Black Mirror’ released September.
Acting has continued to be a major interest for Jake and to that end, he was treading the boards in December 2017, appearing alongside Jennifer Ellison, starring in the musical, produced by Selladoor, ‘Peter Pan a Musical Adventure’, at Blackpool Opera House.
2018 started an amazing year, as after an intense final showdown against Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent and Sportsman Max Evans, Jake won ITV’s very popular series ‘Dancing on Ice’ 2018.
This followed with a Superb Nationwide ‘Dancing On Ice Tour’, and many TV presenting slots on ITV Lorraine continued.
At the end of the year, he played a Handsome Prince in the stage production ‘Cinderella’
2019 continued many, Lorraine, Loose Women & Jeremy Vine TV appearances including Jake competing on Ninja Warrior UK.
The most exciting opportunity for 2019 has been (with Jake very much coming into his own) winning the starring role as Berger in the Selladoor produced, seven month nationwide touring stage musical, ‘Hair’.
Jake also had the opportunity to join Hollyoaks as a guest actor with the TV show’s massive autumn storyline which he enjoyed immensely.
The end of the year found Jake performing as Danon in another super theatre production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which was staged during December 2019.
At the start of 2020 Jake was presenter and host on ‘‘Dance to The Music’ national theatre tour.
Owing to these unprecedented times Jake released a track called ‘Quarantine song’ to raise money for the NHS. The song is about life in quarantine and lyrics tell people what they need to do to stay safe for the world to get through this.
It reached number 9 in The Official UK Top 40 UK Singles Chart.
A super result towards NHS donated monies.
This was followed in December 2020 by a super Christmas single in aid of the Charity Sarcoma UK
This arose hot on the heels of Jake’s TV appearances with The Full Monty (On Ice) with ITV, where alongside skating he sang ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas ‘ live, which brought the house down.
In November and December 2020 Jake was pleased to be asked to perform in a Covid safe production at Liverpool’s M & S Arena.
2021 commenced with Jake and his partner Sophie featuring in the Super MTV series ‘Celebrity Bumps’.
In April he released a super brand new single titled ‘When I’m Gone’ which was very well received, making its debut at Number 2 in the National Top 40. His latest track ‘Love Don’t Feel The Same has climbed to Number 1 on I Tunes. More good music is planned for over the coming months.
Jake is currently being featured in the amazing channel 4 show, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the multi-talented Jake Quickenden.
