Michael Ball

Michael Ball (Michael Ashley Ball; born 27 June 1962, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England) is an English singer, actor, and broadcaster. He is best known for leading roles in West End musical theatre and for a parallel recording career that has produced multiple UK charting albums.

Ball trained as a performer before making his West End debut in 1985 as Marius Pontmercy in the original London production of Les Misérables. This role established him as a prominent musical theatre actor and led to further high-profile work in major productions. His early recording profile also grew through association with contemporary theatre composers and productions.

His peak public visibility as a recording artist began in the late 1980s, including major chart success with “Love Changes Everything” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love. In 1992, he represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with “One Step Out of Time”, finishing second. Across the same period, he continued to appear in prominent stage roles in London and beyond, building a reputation as a leading figure in British musical theatre.

Ball’s later career has included continued theatre work, concert touring, and television and radio presenting. He returned to major productions in the 2000s and 2010s, including award-recognised performances in large-scale West End revivals. Alongside stage work, he maintained a steady recording output, with albums that have performed strongly in UK charts.

Ball has received major professional recognition within theatre, including Olivier Awards, and has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). His long-term influence is associated with the modern history of West End musical theatre, where his performances and recordings have remained prominent across several decades.