Dame Elaine Paige On Why She Hid Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Ageism & Gifting The King.

From an unknown actress to the First Lady of Musical Theatre, Dame Elaine Paige's story is one of the great showbusiness journeys. Eighteen years of auditions, rejection, and near-quitting before one role changed her life overnight.

In this chat with Josh, Elaine opens up about the chaos that happened when the world found out she'd been cast in Evita, how she escaped a pack of journalists who chased her down the street, and the moment she burst into tears telling her mum she didn't want the fame that came with it. She tells the extraordinary story of how she came to perform the iconic song Memory in Cats, and taking to the stage in Sunset Boulevard only a few hours after recovering from breast cancer surgery.

She also reflects on meeting actress Rachel Zegler who took on Elaine’s famous role in Evita, the life-changing wisdom Stephen Sondheim passed on to her, and why she thinks music and arts in state schools should be everybody's urgent priority.

Oh, and she has a copy of her 23rd solo album, Miscellaneous Paige on its way to Buckingham Palace for the King.

Elaine’s album Miscellaneous Paige is out July 17th and her single Only A Lifetime is out now

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📩 Business enquiries – [email protected]

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About Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show

Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show is a podcast built on one belief: connection comes first.

After decades as a journalist interviewing some of the world’s most recognisable faces - from Jennifer Aniston to Timothée Chalamet - Josh has learned that great conversations don’t just happen. There’s an art to a truly great chat, and when you join the conversation, it might just spark something in your own life.

Each week, Josh sits down with actors, musicians, athletes, creators and cultural voices for honest conversations about resilience, identity, ambition, advocacy, mental health and the moments that shape who we become. Guests drop their guard and open up about the setbacks, breakthroughs and defining experiences behind the public persona.

If you’re looking for depth, vulnerability, reinvention and meaningful human connection, you’re in the right place.

Fancy a chat? Hit subscribe and join us every week.

Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show (@joshsmithsgreatchatshow) Brought to you by Next Chapter Studios (@theNextChapterStudios)

Host: Josh Smith (@joshsmithhosts) Creative Director: Carrie Rose Head of Production: Damy McConnell

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