Top Hat leading man Tom Chambers turned wish-granting genie for his penultimate performance in West End musical Top Hat last week when he made the dream of an ill young woman come true.
The former Strictly Come Dancing winner, who is an ambassador of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, invited tuberous sclerosis sufferer Becky Gill Baisotti to perform on stage at the Aldwych theatre, enabling her to live out her dream of being a West End actress.
Talking of her experience, the 21-year-old from Camden, whose debilitating illness causes severe seizures and impacts on the body’s major organs, said: “Tonight was sensational. I couldn’t have asked or even dreamed of anything like it. I really enjoyed every moment of it. I would describe my Starlight wish as a dream and I can’t thank the charity and the team at Top Hat enough for making it come true!”
Chambers, who has been impressing London with his white tie and tails in the 1930s musical comedy since it opened in April last year, said: “It was an absolute honour to help Starlight grant Becky’s wish to perform in a West End musical. Dancing in the role of Jerry Travers had long been a dream of mine and it felt wonderful to be able to make Becky’s own West End wish come true.”
The former Holby City and Waterloo Road star, who appeared in his final performance of Top Hat on Saturday, has now given way to musical theatre veteran Gavin Lee, who will star alongside new leading lady Kristen Beth Williams as Dale Tremont in the popular 1930s musical about a famous American tap dancer and the girl of his dreams, which is currently booking until 27 April 2014.