X FACTOR star Jaymi Hensley has branded himself a “born again virgin” ahead of his saucy new role and admits he’s nothing like his brooding character.
The Union J singer, 36, has joined up with fellow X Factor alumni Matt Terry, 32, and Dalton Harris, 32, for World’s Greatest Lover, which begins at London’s Other Palace next month.
The trio, along with Joaquin Pedro Valdes and Leonardo Vieira, play some of history’s most famous romantics and attempt to uncover the truth about love.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Matt says: “In the show, everyone’s got their different version of what they think love is.
“So the whole show is about bringing back love, how we feel, where it should be different. [To Jaymi] Like your character thinks it’s got to be a bit more painful and dark.”
Jaymi continues: “I’m basically like S&M. That’s my character. I could not be more far removed.
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“I’m like a born again virgin. I’m one of the nuns for the last 18 months.”
Matt said that among Jaymi’s stage outfits is a leather harness.
Joking he needs an emergency course of fat jabs before wearing it, Jaymi laughs: “The Mounjaro is on its way. No, I won’t be in a thong.”
The stage star took unusual inspiration for the role, channelling a surprise Disney villain in his performance.
“So in the audition they were like, ‘think you’re the villain that everyone loves to hate. So think of Scar from The Lion King’,” he says.
“And I was like, I’m more Ursula. I’m going for Ursula from The Little Mermaid.”
During the height of their X Factor fame, all three singers had a spotlight on their personal lives.
Matt reflected on the awkward juxtaposition of news stories that saw him linked romantically with his mentor Nicole Scherzinger one minute and then allegedly kissing his male friends the next.
“I just found it really funny because it was so opposite. Both were untrue,” he says.
While Jaymi remembered how he was the only member of his group — which featured JJ Hamblett, George Shelley and Josh Cuthbert — not to make a Sexiest 100 Males list.
Before coming out as gay publicly in 2012, he recalled being portrayed as a ladies’ man in the papers after a night out with X Factor pals.
“I think week one, once we’d been announced, we went out to Mahiki or something, all the contestants,” he says.
“I was in there and there were three girls, right, and they were like big hair, loads of make-up and, inside the club, I was wearing their heels, I was back combing their hair, being the gay best friend and we all left together.
“I had three of them on each arm and so all the straight guys like James Arthur and Josh, from my band, and all of these walked out, but it was me that ended up as X Factor’s heartthrob.”
He continues: “I put them in an Uber, went home to Olly [late fiancé] and we watched Embarrassing Bodies.
“I’ve never been a heartthrob but the rest of the boys were always the ones. I remember they ended up in the top 10 of the 100 sexiest males and I didn’t even make the 100.
“I think I ended up on Bros With Bellies or something like that. Thanks, guys. This job – we all know that this entire career is fake. We’ve all been very honest. I go to work and I put on a persona, but when you have that mindset that nothing is really what it is…”
X Factor 2018 winner Dalton interjects: “I kind of disagree in a sense. It is true that the industry is fake as hell, but you cannot take the industry home. I approach everything genuinely.”
He teased a darker side to his persona stopped him from buying into the glossy, innocent pop singer persona pushed by TV talent shows.
“The whole heartthrob thing, I never took that on because I always see myself as pretty, pretty boys don’t know the things that I know, so I don’t take that on,” he says.
“But I do feel like when you’re thrust into the spotlight you see an opportunity and you went after it because that’s what you wanted. You had ambition and then people take your ambitiousness and turn it into this whole contract idea of they can toy with you.
“You have to leave that at the door if you really want to be seen, otherwise you’ll go crazy. You just have to sing, make your noise, and go to your yard and if you can pay your light bill that’s great, thanks for that.”
The trio had never sung together prior to heading into auditions for World’s Greatest Lover.
The pop-rock spectacular features 17 original numbers packed full of melodies and has drawn comparisons with hit musical Six, which is based on the wives of King Henry VIII.
“The music’s killer. The music really is amazing,” says Jaymi.
Matt adds: “Every harmony you can think of, we’re doing it. The thing is, on that stage as well, there’s nowhere to hide. We’re doing the harmonies, people are there, and it’s a very different experience.”
Dalton says the experience couldn’t be more removed from his upbringing singing in the Caribbean.
“Growing up in Jamaica, like, I’ve been performing live since I was probably nine. So in Jamaica, we have the worst sound ever, because nobody’s turning up and training and warming up. You turn up and you’re like, all you’ve got to do is yell. So, I’m used to that. Expectations are on the floor.
“Based on what we saw first day, and just everybody’s attitude, it’s gonna be a very good quality of production, you know. I think people really care. We have talented people that are really gonna be doing that, and also what I’m happy about is that I have people like them.”
The production team is stacked with talent that have had huge hits on Broadway.
Producer Marc Routh has seven Tony Awards for stage staples like Oklahoma! and Hairspray, while Simone Genatt has created shows in 60 countries.
Jaymi says that talent was palpable from day one but also praised the supportive family dynamic.
“That’s a first for me, working with an American production team,” he said. “So the standard that they’re used to, not saying us Brits haven’t got as much talent, but the work schedules for people from Broadway is such a different… I feel really supported.
“As Brits, we’re quite reserved. We appreciate or clap our hands, but in America it’s very much, ‘yeah, go, go’. So, having that from your production, especially in the audition process, it was a very different audition process than I’ve ever done.
“It felt more of a collaboration, a workshop. They were interested in what I could offer. They were giving great feedback, being honest about the feedback.
“Whereas you sometimes go to a UK musical audition and it’s like, you’ve got that 30 seconds to nail it. If you don’t do what they’re wanting you to do without any feedback, you don’t get the job.”
The show will run from 12 April – 7 June 2026. Tickets from £15 are on sale now at WGLMUSICAL.COM