One of the stars of the hit Disney+ Series, Rivals, Jonny Weldon has been named as the new Celebrity Ambassador for Sarcoma UK, the charity dedicated to raising awareness and funding research into rare cancers that affect thousands of people every year.
The 32-year-old, who plays Mike Maples in the popular new series starring David Tennant and Danny Dyer, is no stranger to high-profile stages. He made his professional debut aged just 11 in Mary Poppins in the West End, has since appeared in HBO’s House of the Dragon and Netflix’s One Day.
Jonny was first introduced to Sarcoma UK through fellow supporter and West End singer Caroline Sheen, who invited him to the charity’s carol concert. “She said, ‘are you free, would you like to do a reading?’ I had such a nice time and the work Sarcoma UK do is fantastic. I am proud to be an ambassador for them,” he said.
As ambassador, Jonny will play a key role in raising awareness and funds for sarcoma advocacy. Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect virtually any part of the body, including muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues, with more than 100 different subtypes identified.
Cancer is a cause close to Jonny’s heart. The actor, who lives in Walthamstow with his wife Lucy and cat Stanley, has previously run the London Marathon for other cancer charities, following the death of his mother-in-law from ovarian cancer in 2019.
His journey in the entertainment industry began early. After his West End debut as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins at the age of 11, he went on to play Gavroche in Les Misérables before building an impressive and wide-ranging career across film, theatre, radio and television.
Away from the screen and stage, Jonny has also demonstrated a sharp comic sensibility. During the pandemic, he went viral online with a series of witty sketches about life as an actor, showcasing a talent for writing that has become another string to his bow.
Sarcoma UK’s Chief Executive Richard Davidson said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jonny as our new Celebrity Ambassador. His warmth, passion and profile will make a huge difference in helping us reach more people with our message. Sarcoma is a cancer that many people have never heard of, and having someone of Jonny’s calibre and energy alongside us means we can change that.”
