Matt Jay-Willis
Matt Willis originated the role of Dr. Jim Pomatter on the UK and Ireland tour of Waitress the Musical. He left the tour at the end of May 2022, with David Hunter reprising his role from the West End for the rest of the tour.
Matt was born in Tooting, London and attended high school in Woking, before leaving to attend the independent fee-paying Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, where he studied alongside Lee Ryan of Blue, Tom Fletcher of McFly, Billie Piper, and the late Amy Winehouse.
In 2000, he became on third of the boyband, Busted, co-writing almost all of their songs along with bandmates Charlie Simpson and James Bourne. Busted had four UK #1 singles, and three top 2 albums. Matt also had three solo UK top 20 hits, and released his debut album, “Don’t Let It Go To Waste,” in 2006. That year, he also took part in “Celebrity MasterChef,” and, in December, was crowned the winner of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!”
In 2010, he made his theatrical debut as Nick in Flashdance: The Musical, before starring as Fiyero in Wicked in 2011. In the summer of 2018, he starred as Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Matt is also a successful TV presenter, with credits including “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW!” and BAFTA coverage for E! In 2021, Matt and his wife, Emma Willis, trained as vaccination volunteers, helping the NHS to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in the UK.
Selected Previous Credits
West End
- Little Shop Of Horrors
- Wicked
- Footloose
- Flashdance: The Musical
| Name | Mathew James Willis |
| Born | 8 May 1983 |
| From | London |
| Trained | Sylvia Young Theatre School |
| Role | Dr. Jim Pomatter UK and Ireland Tour |