Jake Quickenden details ‘down days’ and being a role model for his kids ahead of major tour

Jake Quickenden emotionally opened up about what it takes to follow your dreams while also juggling a young family.

The multi-talented star’s career has gone from strength to strength since his time on The X Factor, with appearances on Dancing on Ice and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here following years of working as everything from a bricklayer to a McDonald’s employee.

In recent years, however, 32-year-old Jake has discovered his love of acting. He’s currently on the road with his new show Rita, Sue and Bob Too! – alongside stars such as Hollyoaks’ Jessica Ellis, Shameless’ Warren Donnelly, and Britain’s Got Talent’s Siobhan Phillips – which kicked off this month and comes to an end in Liverpool in April.

Jake spoke to the Mirror the day after his first performance in St. Helens, and while on a high from the incredible standing ovation on night one, admitted that being on tour was a challenge.

“It’s hard,” he said of being away from his two young sons, Freddie and Leo. “But there’s so many parents who have to work away in all lines of work, and it can be tough. But we’ve got FaceTime now which is great, so we get to see their faces every day.”

Despite missing his family, Jake explained that it ultimately all came down to his children. He shared: “I just want to be a decent role model for my kids, and if they see me working away and trying to better myself then hopefully that will rub off on them. And as hard as it is being away, it’s not forever.”

Jake also gushed over his “amazing” wife Sophie Church, whom he married in 2022. “I’ve got to work, and I’ve got an amazing wife at home who understands and is just the captain of the ship,” he said.

“I do have down days, but I think we all do when you’re not seeing the kids or the wife or your husband… but you’ve just got to think of the bigger picture,” Jake shared, reiterating that he wants to show his sons that “you need to work in life” and that “nothing comes easy.”

While Jake is loving his new career path despite the downside of being away from home, he added that he did suffer from “imposter syndrome” as an actor, being surrounded by talent who’d had years of professional training in the craft.

When asked if acting had been his ultimate goal over the years, Jake: “I’d be lying if I said it was. I never really knew what I wanted to do. I just knew that I liked to entertain, and have a laugh and do different things.

“So I did a bit of footie, I was a bricklayer, I worked in McDonald’s, I worked in Topman. I did so many jobs – I was a lifeguard! And then I went on The X Factor and it changed my life in a way.”

Everything changed when Jake spontaneously auditioned for the musical Hair and got the part – and now he has his sights set on West End or one of the soaps. “I think I’ve done five touring shows now, and six Christmas shows, and a little stint on Hollyoaks. And I just want to keep getting better and better and keep growing,” he enthused.

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Source: Mirror