Love Island star lands huge new acting role as she takes over from McFly star’s wife

FORMER Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore has landed a major acting role in a theatre production of the 2015 best-selling novel, Girl on a Train, by Paula Hawkins.

The Irish presenter will play the main character of Rachel Watson in the touring production, a woman who ‘longs for a different life, her only escape is the perfect couple she watches through the train window happy and in love. Or so it appears.”

The role will be played initially by Giovanna Fletcher, successful podcast host and the wife of Tom Fletcher of McFly fame.

Fletcher will begin the role when in opens In January 2025 at the Richmond Theatre.

Then Whitmore will take over the run, beginning at the Brighton Theatre Royal in June, before stopping in Milton Keynes, Malvern, Aberdeen, Leeds, Inverness, Mold, Southampton, Belfast, Cork and finishing in Dublin on August 30^th.

Speaking about her new role, Laura said:

"I read the book when it first came out and I was obsessed by it," said Whitmore of her new role. "I love it when you find a book and all you can think about is that story. You wake up a little bit earlier to read the book and stay up too late to finish it. I am excited to show people my portrayal of Rachel next summer."

Since stepping down as Love Island host in 2022, Whitmore has been trying her hand at acting after starring in the popular West End play: 22.22 a Ghost story. She also landed a lead role in a feature film: A mother for an hour, which is due to be released in the near future.

Paula Hawkin’s smash hit psychological thriller has sold more than 2 million copies within two months of being released and has now shifted more than 20 million sales worldwide.

In 2016 it was made into a feature film starring actress Emily Blunt who was BAFTA nominated for her performance as Rachel, starring alongside Justin Theroux, Luke Evans and Lisa Kudrow.