An interesting morning at the press launch for Any Dream Will Do, the BBC’s new Saturday night talent show to find a Joseph.
We’ve solved (for now) the mystery of Louis Walsh’s involvement: he’s an audience member. Just as last year’s Marias were whittled down from a longlist of 20 to the final ten after a concert performance at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s country pile, this year’s final twelve potential Josephs have been selected after a similar event near ALW’s castle in Ireland. A number of famous faces could be spotted amongst the audience, Louis included — but only the judges made the decision on who to send home, and who to bring to London for the live shows. (That said, the finalists will continue to be getting plenty of tuition on various subjects between live shows, so it’s more than possible that Walsh’s involvement will continue.)
It apparently took two hours for the judges to reach their decision on the final of the twelve places, with the whole list only being finalised at 5 o’clock last night. While the identities of the finalists won’t be revealed just yet, we have been told that among the twelve you’ll be able to see:
- a David Beckham-lookalike
- two 17-year-old school pupils
- a builder
- an amateur dramatics enthusiast
- a professional actor
Bill Kenwright, who as coproducer of the West End musical in which the winner will perform takes the judge’s chair vacated by David Ian, revealed that he nearly didn’t take the job because the live Saturday shows could conflict with supporting Everton FC, of which he is the chairman:
When this came up and they said, “Would you do it?”, I looked at the fixture list. You could count on [one] hand the number of games I’ve missed in the last 54 years… There were three games there that were on Saturdays. So I just prayed they would become Sky games and would go to the Sunday so I could see them. I don’t know at the moment, there are three games there I could possibly miss. I have never missed three games in a season in my entire life!
Elsewhere, new judge Denise Van Outen revealed that after her stint on the US Grease: You’re The One That I Want (BBC Enterprises for NBC) finishes this week, she’ll still be commuting between London and Los Angeles, as she’s signed on for a new (and currently secret) US TV project. Also, as a single woman who was obsessed with Jason Donovan in his Joseph days, she wants the finalists to appeal to her in a particular way:
Being a single girl — twelve guys, you do have your favourite but I know it will change… It’s rather like speed dating for me, the audition process!
At which point somebody asked John Barrowman if he was using the show as a speed dating exercise. Cue a withering look, and a very embarrassed reporter as she realised John’s civil partner was standing behind her…
- Any Dream Will Do starts on March 31 on BBC1 (time still TBC at the moment).
Theatreland and Bill Kenwright seem like they are quite happy to lose their senses all in the name of money! Money made in the very short term that is, how these people just can't help themselves when they see both the Pound and Dollar signs in their eyes. This of course might start a small short term craze but no doubt (and my God I sincerely do hope) that this horrid reality TV based re heated concept will die a death once punters get sick and tired of being lied to and let down at the theatre. Tifiney from 'stenders from MY FAIR LADY may have put a few bums on seats thanks to her name but when push came to shove she just couldn't deliver (despite the OLIVIER's happily delivery an award into the comfort zone of her chidlish and lazy ego.)
At least Roger Moore bolted for the door during rehearsals for ASPECTS OF LOVE before the previews had even started and Richard Dryfuss was politely sent on holiday (forever) by the producers of THE PRODUCERS.
Now reality television wants us to believe that it can find singing and dancing brickies anywhere anytime to fill the boots of some seasoned old turn.
London's West End should be buried under tons of sewage and nuclear waste after the latest debacle of MARIA going sick, Webber making feeble excuses for her and certain understudies being sent on stage with the lines in their hand.
We had Islamic terrorists, Irish terrorists, homo phobic nail bombers in theatreland not to mention so called Comedy terrorists, why can't we finally have a group of disgruntled theatrical terrorists (unemployed Actors) ready and primed to storm the London Palladium, chuck some water bombs about and then pull the whole damn temple down upon itself.
R.I.P.
The West End of London.
May it rest in peace.
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Please spare a thought for the group of fantastic (and trained) actors currently appearing in Bill Kenwright's UK National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This show is receiving great reviews wherever it goes and the cast is working their socks off 12 times a week!
My point exactly Maggie.
I am sure that this particular UK tour and it's Artists are more than capable of during a full weeks work every week, lets hope that they are not a dying breed.
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We've seen the UK tour in Stoke and it was excellent but we are also booking to see it in the West End again. Plus the TV program is excellent entertainment.
My friends and I are so glad Lee won!!!! He is an absolutely amazing singer, actor and dancer...We can't wait to see him perform...LEE IS AN ORGASM IN HUMAN FORM!!!!