Karim Zeroual is a television presenter and theatre performer best known for anchoring CBBC and reaching the final of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2019.
Over the course of his career on television he has brought together his passion of presenting and performing by hosting BBC’s Young Dancer of the Year and BBC Four’s Dance Passion as well as fronting events with the BBC National Orchestra. And in 2020, he presented BBC Bitesize, educating the nation’s children during lockdown.
In 2019 Karim hosted travel and sport documentary ‘A Week to Beat the World’, taking British children to countries including Guatemala, Brazil and Japan to learn the national sport and compete against a local team.
Reaching the final of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ alongside his dance partner Amy Dowden was a career highlight for Karim. He then went on to perform at arenas around the country on the official ‘Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour’.
In March 2020, Karim took part in the Sport Relief challenge, trekking across the Namibian desert, which aired as a 60-minute documentary on BBC One. And in early 2021 he starred in both Celebrity Best Home Cook on BBC One and Celebs Go Dating on E4.
As well as presenting, Karim has a huge passion for both acting and performing. Having trained during his formative years at the prestigious Sylvia Young Performing Arts School, followed by Urdang Performing Arts Academy. He has starred in numerous TV shows, including, ‘EastEnders’, ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ and ‘The Sparticle Mystery’, as well as on the West End stage in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and ‘The Lion King’.
Karim was thrilled to return to the West End in 2021 appearing as host and primary dancer in hit show ‘Here Come The Boys’ for a successful run at The London Palladium as well as touring the show around the UK in 2022. He made his pantomime debut in Peter Pan at The Hawth Theatre in Crawley in December 2023. And is thrilled to be starring as King Julien in the Madagascar national and international tour this year.
Joseph is delighted to be playing the role of Alex in Madagascar The Musical.
Training: Performance Preparation Academy (PPA)
Theatre: Understudy Nico, Fantali, Graziani, Felix and Ensemble in Glory Ride (Charing Cross Theatre); The Rum Tum Tugger in Cats (RCCL); Pop / Rock Tenor in The 12 Tenors (European Millennium Tour); Prince Charming in Cinderella (The Anvil)
Instagram: @joey_hewlett
Francisco Gomes trained and recently graduated from Italia Conti Academy Of Theatre Arts.
Credits inc: Ensemble/Cover in The Mikado (Wilton’s Music Hall & UK Tour), Daddy Brubeck in Sweet Charity (Italia Conti), Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd (Italia Conti).
Francisco is so excited to be joining the cast of Madagascar and would love to thank his family, friends and the team at Innovation Artists for all the love and support.
Joshua trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
He has since worked across stage and screen, focussing mostly on new writing.
He most recently starred as Alex Acid in drag musical Acid’s Reign (Luke Howarth).
Further stage work includes The Wizard of Oz (Gary Starr), Vespertilio (Lucy Jane Atkinson), Roseline (Ross Drury), Lord Dismiss Us (Offie Nominated, Glenn Chandler), Beauty on the Piste (Andrew Beckett). His screen credits include The Dead Room (Mark Gatiss), Little Crackers (Harry Hill), The Sermon (Dean Puckett). He was also a member of the workshop company for A Brief History of Trump (Steve Marmion), and A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer (Bryony Kimmings).
Jarnéia Richard - Noel, trained at The Urdang Academy in London.
Straight out of graduation she started her career on P&O crusies as a singer dancer.
She originated the role “Catherine of Aragon” in SIX the musical and was nominated for an Olivier award & The stage debut award for her role. She then went on to do Hairspray Uk Tour as swing dynamites, Millennials song cycle at The Other Palace, GhostLight Play at Union Theatre, Dick Whittington and his cat pantomime at Norwich Theatre Royal, Fairy in Sleeping Beauty Xrossroads pantomime in Plymouth, Wicked film as ensemble.
Socials @jrichardnoel
Training: The Urdang Academy (Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre and Dance)
Theatre credits include: ‘Sister Mary Martin of Tours/Cover Sister Mary Patrick’ in Sister
Act (English Theatre, Frankfurt), ‘Ensemble/Cover Wicked Stepmother & Ugly Sister’ in Cinderella (Wolverhampton Grand), ‘Swing/Dance Captain/Cover Heather/Cover Alesha in American Idiot
(UK Tour/New Zealand), ‘Alice/Dance Captain’ in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Canada), ‘Angie’ in
Summer Holiday (UK Tour), ‘Ensemble/Cover Cinderella’ in Cinderella (The Orchard Theatre), ‘Alice/Cover Miss Flannery’ in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour), ‘Frenchy/Cover Sandy’ in
Grease (Belinda King), ‘Ensemble/Cover Snow White’ in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(Venue Cymru), ‘Backing Vocalist/ Dancer’ in The Stylophones (Leicester Square Theatre), ‘Backing Dancer’ in Shoshana Bean - Back in London (Hippodrome)
Television credits include: Jane McDonald & Friends (Channel 5), Strictly Come Dancing Launch Show (BBC)
Twitter: @LauMarieBenson Instagram: @laumarie11
Training: The Urdang Academy
Theatre: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Crossroads Pantomimes), Vocalist in Voice in A Million.
Ella is thrilled to be joining the cast of Madagascar and would like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support.
Ella is represented by Brewis Scott Associates.
Training: Bird College and The Brit School
Credits include: ‘Princess Aurora’ in Sleeping Beauty (Alhambra Theatre). Whilst in training: ‘Maria’ in 9 to 5 the Musical and ‘Featured Dancer’ in Wonderland.
Television Credits include: ‘Princess’ in Damsel (Netflix) 2023.
Whilst in training: ‘Dancer’ at The Brit Awards for Hugh Jackman 2019 and Dua Lipa 2018.
Brogan is delighted to be playing the role of Mort/Private and 2nd Cover Gloria. She would like to thank her family and agent for their support.
Connor graduated from ArtsEd in 2022.
Credits include: Peter Pan in The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook.
Credits whilst training: SpongeBob SquarePants in the European premier of The SpongeBob Musical directed by John Brant, Ensemble in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes directed by Tom O’Brien, and Garry Esendine in Present Laughter directed by James Coombes.
Training: Arts Educational Schools London
Theatre credits include: The Other Songs Live & Doctor Zhivago- In Concert (London Palladium).
Credits whilst training: Anthony in Sweeney Todd & Ensemble in A Chorus Line (Andrew Lloyd Webber Theatre)
Other credits include: Olivier Awards 2023 (ITV/Royal Albert Hall)
James is delighted to be joining the cast of Madagascar UK Tour.
Gabriel Hinchliffe grew up in a little village in West Yorkshire called Holmfirth before training at The Urdang Academy in London, where he currently resides.
He is very excited to be a part of this production of Madagascar as it was one of his favourite film series growing up! Gabriel would like to thank all his friends and family for helping him to get to where he is today.
Theatre credits include: Understudy Jeremy/Michael/Jake/Rich/Swing: Be More Chill (The Shaftesbury Theatre and The Other Palace), Marshall: Paw Patrol Live! - Race To The Rescue (UK Tour), Featured Singer: Will Have To Do It Again Then (Concert), Joe Josephson: Merrily We Roll Along (Bernie Grant Theatre), Larry: Company (The Urdang Academy), Man 5: Jerry Herman’s Showtune (The Union Theatre), Understudy Aladdin/ensemble: Aladdin (Theatre Severn).
Training: Guildford School of Acting and Dance School Of Scotland
Theatre Credits Include: Mike Curb/Dance Captain in The Osmonds: A New Musical (UK Tour); From Here (Chiswick Playhouse); Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest (Barn Theatre and Turbine Theatre); Ensemble in The Pirate Queen (London Coliseum); Flynn in Closer To Heaven (Above The Stag); Billy/Dance Captain in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Union Theatre); Mince in Moorcroft (Tristan Bates Theatre).
Other Work Includes: Ae Fond Kiss - Songs of Home from the West End (Album - Spotify)
Instagram: @aidanharkins_
X: @_aidanjharkins
Pronouns: He/Him
