Exclusive: Jonathan Slinger as Willy Wonka

First Published 1 May 2015, Last Updated 1 May 2015

Who’s this dapper looking chap, I hear you ask? It is, of course, Willy Wonka. Everyone knows that. But he may look a little different to how you remember him.

That’s because there’s a new chocolatier in town. From Monday, RSC regular and Urinetown The Musical star Jonathan Slinger will take up the confection-concocting duties currently undertaken by Alex Jennings in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

We were more excited than Charlie on finding his golden ticket when we were given the first look at the acclaimed actor in action in Sam Mendes’ Olivier Award-winning production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Slinger is the third sweet-toothed chocolate factory owner to don the purple jacket, pick up the (sugar) cane and join the Oompa-Loompas in the West End, and we think he’ll be Divine!

Take a look at the images above. From the look of them, we’d say Slinger’s Wonka looks as dark as… well… dark chocolate. The 99% cocoa kind!

Related articles