Bash Croft Trades Heartstopper for Pop Stardom

British actor Sebastian 'Bash' Croft releases his new single 'Pretty People' on Friday, October 2, 2026, alongside the announcement of his debut EP, The Great Forever. Now 24, Croft has appeared in more than a dozen film and TV projects, playing the young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones at age 14 and drawing wider attention at 20 for his role as Ben Hope in Netflix's queer coming-of-age drama Heartstopper. In an interview with NME, he said he wants to reintroduce himself as more of an 'acoustic guitar singer-songwriter.'

'Pretty People' and the Debut EP

Croft's first single, 'Tokyo,' was released in November 2025, built around lightly strummed guitar chords looking back on a messy relationship. The new single 'Pretty People' marks a clear shift in direction — a pop single complete with a choreographed music video.

His upcoming EP, The Great Forever, continues the post-breakup confessional themes but with more polished pop production. He describes his starting point as exploring the tension between holding himself to the standard of a 'pop girl' and his original acoustic singer-songwriter roots.

A Gap in the Market for a 'Pop Girl'

Croft notes that plenty of female pop stars are doing interesting things right now, naming Sabrina Carpenter, Zara Larsson, and Charli XCX, while his male peers haven't shown the same energy. He suggests many male pop artists, especially straight men, avoid calling themselves pop stars, instead describing their work as country or rap.

He frames his own position as making mainstream pop music 'through a queer lens,' and says the very attempt to become 'a pop girl' is what interests him. He's also quick to note that his musical foundation remains rooted in indie.

Hyde Park Support Slot and The Celebrity Traitors

Before this musical pivot, Croft had already played several small live shows, including a support slot for Lewis Capaldi at London's Hyde Park this summer.

Around the same time, he appeared on the 2026 season of the BBC reality show The Celebrity Traitors, which drew nearly 9 million viewers for its premiere. Fellow contestants this season included Michael Sheen, Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and The Last of Us actor Bella Ramsey. Croft said what drew him to the show was the chance to be himself rather than play a character; last year, he celebrated his birthday with friends at The Traitors: Live Experience.

He also spoke about managing his public image — having once tried to be seen as a 'serious actor,' he now prefers to pursue what genuinely interests him and let others decide what that means.