Jesse Tyler Ferguson among six stars sharing King Herod in London Palladium’s Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesse Tyler Ferguson will be one of six performers to share the role of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, the summer musical season at the London Palladium that begins on 20 June and runs through 5 September 2026. The casting move pairs a rotating Herod line-up with Sam Ryder in the role of Jesus and sends a high-profile signal ahead of opening night.
Six Herods, one song and a packed summer schedule
The six performers announced to take turns as King Herod are Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Armitage, Boy George, Layton Williams and Julian Clary. Jesse Tyler Ferguson will perform from 20 June – 11 July; Simon Russell Beale from 13 – 25 July; Richard Armitage from 27 July – 1 August; Boy George from 3 – 15 August (excluding 8 August); Layton Williams from 17 – 29 August; and Julian Clary from 31 August – 5 September. The show’s run at the London Palladium is scheduled to begin on 20 June and finish on 5 September.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson to kick off the Herod run
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, known for his television work, opens the rotating Herod shifts on 20 June. The role of Herod traditionally appears for a single song in the musical, and this production will present a new take by rotating well-known performers across its 11-week run at the Palladium.
Sam Ryder’s return and a familiar creative team
Sam Ryder, the Eurovision runner-up who will play Jesus, is making his official West End debut in this staging. Ryder previously shared the role in autumn 2025 and said at the time: "So excited to be part of one of the biggest institutions in musical theatre the world’s ever known at The London Palladium in the West End! I'm honoured to take on this responsibility as I follow in the footsteps of rock vocal titans like Ian Gillan and John Farnham. I can't wait to immerse myself in the word of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2026. "
Director and designers promise a colourful Herod
Director Tim Sheader said: "All different but all fabulous, we are thrilled that these six artists will take a turn demanding Jesus walk across their swimming pool as the infamously camp but lethal King Herod. Choose to see any one of them and we promise, for a golden moment, they will stop this juggernaut of a show in its glitter-filled tracks. " Choreography is by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and design is by Tony and Olivier Award winner Tom Scutt.
Creative credits, musical highlights and casting notes
The rest of the creative team includes musical supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher and fight director Kate Waters, with casting by Grindrod Burton Casting. Tom Deering's credit includes Standing at the Sky’s Edge; Lee Curran's credit includes A Streetcar Named Desire; Adam Fisher's credit includes Sunset Boulevard; and Kate Waters' credit includes Othello. The score of the show features numbers such as "Heaven on Their Minds", "I Don't Know How to Love Him", "Gethsemane" and the title number "Superstar".
Made by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical tells the last days of the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Judas and has a production history that includes a Broadway premiere in 1971 and a West End premiere in 1972. The original London production ran for over eight years from 1972 and, by the time it closed, had completed 3, 358 performances. The show was last seen in London at the Barbican Theatre in 2019, toured regionally in 2024 and recently had an actor-musician revival at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
What remains unannounced and what’s next
The rest of the principal cast, including the roles of Mary Magdalene and Judas, have yet to be announced; further casting for Tim Sheader's Palladium staging will be revealed in due course. Tickets are on sale, and the confirmed run opens on 20 June 2026 at the London Palladium with the final scheduled performance on 5 September 2026.
For now, audiences can pick specific Herod dates—Jesse Tyler Ferguson opens the series of guest Herods on 20 June and Julian Clary closes it on 5 September—and await the remaining casting announcements ahead of opening night.
