“To tell your stories and have a room of people go with you is just brilliant”: Lucie Jones on Live at the Palladium

Lucie Jones is best known for her iconic roles on West End stages, in shows such as Les Misérables, Rent, Waitress and Wicked, to name just a few. A powerhouse vocalist, Jones also made history singing at Glastonbury and is now set to perform her biggest solo concert to date at the London Palladium on 16th February 2026. As if that weren’t a feat in itself, she is also preparing to welcome a beautiful baby girl this summer. With these epic milestones in both her career and personal life coming into focus, we caught up with Jones amid all the joy ahead of her show at the iconic London venue.

You have spoken about this Palladium concert as a lifelong dream. Now that it is finally here, does it feel like an arrival, or more like a marker along a much longer journey?

This venue is somewhere I have dreamt of playing solo since the moment I knew it existed. I feel as though my whole career has happened the way it has for a reason, and the timing of this concert feels like the most wonderful culmination of the first few chapters of it. I’m expecting my little girl in July, so to share this with her makes it even more of a dream come true.

This is your biggest solo concert to date, and one that feels very firmly shaped on your own terms. What has shifted in you over time that made you feel ready to take full ownership of a night like this?

Over the years, I have been so lucky to play lots of solo shows – from huge venues like the Adelphi to teeny rooms in places like nursing homes and entertainment centres at caravan parks. Many, many caravan parks! Every single one of those shows has given me a little more education, a pinch of confidence, and sometimes a harsh lesson in reality. Now I feel a huge sense of excitement about enjoying an evening with lovely people who want to hang out.

The show is built around music that has stayed with you and shaped you. During rehearsals, has there been a moment when a song suddenly reflected back something new about who you are now?

Big time. Things feel entirely different since I became pregnant – lyrics take on a whole new meaning when you’re carrying your daughter with you. What a privilege it is!

You are stepping into this moment after an intense run of work, while also preparing to become a mother. Do those experiences feel intertwined for you, or are they sitting alongside each other in quieter ways?

I always have an intense run of work – nothing changes there! If I have time off, I hustle. The timing of this show really feels very special. I keep catching myself smiling at it all; I feel so lucky.

You have described this concert as the most authentic version of yourself you have shared so far. Was reaching that place something you consciously worked towards, or did it emerge as your life evolved?

Life has a funny way of leading you towards or away from things. I absolutely can’t take all the credit for getting myself to where I am now, but I have certainly worked hard to get here. I’m pretty proud of what I have achieved in my career, but more importantly, I feel pride in who I am now. That’s pretty cool to feel.

The show blends musical theatre storytelling with the energy of a live gig. How did you think about shaping the emotional journey of the evening, rather than simply choosing songs you love?

A combination of musical theatre storytelling and a live gig feel is what I generally go for with these types of shows. It’s a good representation of the parts of the industry I love and work in. I love both worlds, so having them collide for these nights is awesome.

There is an intimacy promised in the night, alongside moments that are raw and unexpected. Were there parts of the show you hesitated over before deciding they needed to be shared?

Definitely! I’m going to talk to this audience in a different way than I have before. It’s all part of growing and becoming a better version of myself. Some of these ticket holders have been with me since I was 17, auditioning for The X Factor. I want to share things with them; it feels like a privilege to be able to.

You have inhabited so many iconic characters over the years. What has it been like stepping away from those roles and standing alone on the Palladium stage as yourself?

I really feel like it’s such an honour. To stand up for yourself, tell your stories, and have a room of people go with you on that ride is just brilliant. That said, the roles I have played have all informed the person I am in small ways; they’re always with me.

If you could sit down with the younger version of yourself who was just starting out, what would you want to tell her now, with the benefit of everything you have learned since?

I would ask her to do the work to always be her true, authentic self – even when it scares her and means going against the grain. You’ll be a better person and performer for it.

Looking back, is there a piece of advice you once received that you did not fully understand at the time, but now find yourself returning to?

Akin to the above, I have been told so many times, “always be yourself.” I thought I was achieving that early on in my career and adult life, but now I truly know what that means, and I am so grateful I genuinely feel that way.

For someone watching you now and dreaming of a similar path, what do you think is most important to understand about building a life in this industry that goes beyond talent alone?

It’s not easy and it’s not linear. Don’t expect anything to be given to you, and never stop striving to be better, kinder, more patient and more understanding. The more you learn, the more chances you give yourself. Be kind to people – it goes a long way.

As someone balancing a demanding career with the beginning of motherhood, what feels most worth protecting at this stage of your life?

All of it feels so precious and exciting. I am writing everything down and taking more photos and videos than I ever have before. I want to bottle the happiness and excitement George and I are sharing right now; it’s magic.

When the final note is sung and the lights come back up at the Palladium, what do you hope you will quietly carry forward from this experience into the next chapter?

I hope I feel pride. I really hope everyone has a brilliant time. If people leave feeling fulfilled, entertained, and like they got to know a new pal a little, I’ll be thrilled.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.