Oh deary deary me - what a supreme balls up.
It’s only the first week of Grease is the Word’s live shows and already Joe Public has managed to boot off one of the strongest couples.
Poor David Ian - it seems it never crossed anybody’s mind that ITV viewers might prove more fallible in the hunt for theatre talent than their BBC counterparts, as the judges’ panicked scrabbling about at the end of the show seemed to indicate.
But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. This week’s edition of Grease is the Word was the first time the couples (yes they’ve now been paired up) got to move out of the audition room and into the studio, in front of a live audience.
Firstly, I think it’s worth saying that the standard of performances has improved quite incredibly since the last show. While the quality is variable, there isn’t a single really duff couple amongst the contenders and you wouldn’t have said that after last week’s episode. That few weeks’ training in between the bootcamp and this first live show has clearly paid dividends.
Maybe the universally decent standard is why we ended up with such a strange result - still there were plenty of people who should have been exiting prior to Tom and Kate, or indeed their sing-off competitors Michelle and Bradley.
Here’s my run down of the couples, starting with the two pairs who were made to sing for survival:
Tom Bradley and Kate Somerset-How: Performed Blame it on the Boogie. Tom performed especially well. Kate also strong, with the exception of her dancing. Tom, a trained actor, is clearly a solid performer and Kate had potential. Only question mark for me was chemistry between the pair and maybe whether Tom looked the part. Still should definitely have been looking to get down to the final four or so, had they not been voted off.
Bradley Clarkson and Michelle Antrobus - Performed Boogie Wonderland. Good chemistry between the pair, work extremely well together. If not the best singers in the whole group, they are both solid and good dancers. One of the most polished performances and Michelle is probably the only Sandy to so far show that she can nail both the innocent and sexy sides to Sandy (knicker flash, anyone?). Their future will depend on whether Bradley can convince as Danny, Michelle, in my view, is the strongest Sandy of the bunch.
Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden - Performed Knock on Wood. I would say this pair have to be favourites to land the roles in the end. They certainly look the parts, although I think that their performance on this show was slightly underwhelming. Susan is vocally one of the strongest Sandy’s, while Danny B is a very strong dancer. Two big question marks for me - can Danny improve his singing and can Susan do sexy?
Anthony Kavanagh and Alison Crawford. Performed Don’t Leave me this Way. I really like this couple, although I’m not 100% sure why. Anthony’s voice is good, if a little nasal, and Alison somehow doesn’t seem quite right for Sandy. Still, they work well together on stage and the performance was fun and energetic. Anthony does need to work on the dancing though. I’d expect them to be in it for the long run.
Danny Rhodes and Lauren McConnell. Performed Wishing on a Star. Vocally they are streets ahead of everyone else - brilliant solo voices and perfect hamornies. Having said that, if it had been my choice they would have been the ones going home after this show. They are never, not in a million years, going to play Danny and Sandy in the West End. As good as they are at singing (and they are extremely good), neither of them has the sex appeal required for these specific parts, they both look too young and are awkward on stage. Sorry, but really. What were you thinking of voting for them?
Richard Morgan and Joanna Power. Performed Never Can Say Goodbye. If it had been judged purely on this evening’s performance, they should have been packing their bags. A real disappointment - I for one thought they might do better. Especially Richard, who has a natural charm and like-ability. Maybe that saved them. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t their dancing, which was poor. Think they will improve though.
Wayne Smith and Hayley Clarke. Performed Disco Inferno. For me, Wayne was by far the best Danny on tonight’s showing. A really excellent performance, especially the dancing. I’m not convinced by Hayley, but the pair did perform well together. However, one question. Why have we seen basically nothing of this pair before in any of the previous shows? It’s as if they have appeared from nowhere. One of the strongest couples.
Michael Quinn and Vicky Hoyles. Performed On the Radio. Very weak on the vocals - both of them. Dancing was good, but altogether a bit of a disappointment. I had expected to see them in the final two, singing for their supper, this week and I’d be surprised if they stuck around much longer. No real chemistry either. Good lifting, though.
Okay, so that’s my view on the couples. I’d be interested to know yours.
Also - a thought. Clearly, one of the principal features which makes this show interesting (and I do think it is turning into interesting TV) is the fact that the contestants live or die as couples.
However, this week has also clearly shown that this format has a weakness. Some potentially very strong performers - in this case Tom Bradley - has been voted off, perhaps in part due to the fact that his partner wasn’t quite as strong. Equally, I’m convinced that Michelle Antrobus wouldn’t have been in the sing-off had she been partnered with say Wayne Smith. Will this format turn out to be the show’s Achilles’ heel?
I THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS VERY AMATEUR IN ITS FORMAT AND CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE I WATCHED IT BACK ON VIDEO!! I AGREE I DON'T THINK THE PAIRING THING IS FAIR WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE VOTES AS IT WAS SO OBVIOUS CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE BETTER THAN OTHERS! GOD WHAT IF YOU'D BEEN PAIRED WITH SOMEONE YOU DON'T GET ON WITH THEN THATS LIFE I SUPPOSE !!! I CAN'T SAY I WILL BE RUSHING TO BUY A TICKET. THEN I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO SEE THE SOUND OF MUSIC YET!!!! AH WELL ONE DAY MAYBE(NOT!!!!!)
Well that show has certainly made up my mind to not watch the rest of the series. To say they will be performing in pairs when they eventually get the job is true and there does need to be chemistry, but surely that is something for them to work on then. Do all leading men and women have to audition with any random person - certainly not, they are judged on their own merits. If Tom was paired with Susan then he would certainly not be going home. Rediculous. Tom is far too talented for that show and to be honest has probably had a lucky escape - it is turning into quite a charade and could potentially ruin the winners careers forever. Shame Tom didn't audition for the BBC Joseph programme instead. There he would be judged purely on his ability and in a far more professional and pleasant manner. The judges bickering on ITV is just plain embarrassing.
I think this weeks show was a huge improvement on the previous 3 episodes, now we are actually getting down to the competition. I'm not sure about the pairing and certainly thought the wrong couples ended up in the bottom two - maybe the ITV audience are treating this too much like X Factor - these guys are gonna end up on a West End stage from mid July!!! I disagree with Cazza - I thought the show format worked well and I think many people have already booked their tickets as they have already taken over £4 million at the box office.....
I think Anthony and Asling suite really well. Anthony is so great looking i will vote for him till all my txts go away lol :) I think he is trying his best to do dances and his voice is amazin--- Anthony to win!!!!! xxxTeresaxxx
Completely the wrong result. I'm actually a bit embarrassed for ITV, because the show's turned into a complete farce. One of the most talented people on the show (including the judges!!), Tom Bradley, was kicked out purely because of a lack-of air time, and (unfortunately) a partner who was not suited well to him (be it for reasons of talent, age or looks) A combination of bad decisions by the public, some rather nauseating performances and David Guest is dissuading me from watching again this week....!
I agree that Wayne Smith was the best Danny- not the best looking, but his dancing was amazing, making him really stand out.
Whilst they shouldn't have gone, Kate's dancing was awful, she looked like a cart horse!
Judges were quite harsh on Anthony- he's not exactly fat, and David Gest can talk!
For some reason Susan McFadden annoys me. She is not the best looking Sandy, but got the best looking Danny.
It seems to me that the show has started with a bit of a negative feel, which is shame really for the couples involved. If you watch some the American series on You Tube, then you'll see how fantastic this show could and hopefully will be. I don't think the bottom two couples deserved to be there. Tom Bradley is a great character who should have been showcased more with the programme. Michelle is simply marvelous. A real performer. Although the vocals weren't the strongest on Saturday, I believe she'll increase by miles over the coming weeks. Her performance was heads and shoulders above the rest though. She seemed to have a way of catching your attention. I love that in a performer as you feel more connected with the performance. I think the judges have had a shock, but won't let good people leave yet. In the American series they shifted couples around after a few weeks and then had them singing solo for votes. I think we need to give ITV a chance to really make Grease The Word.
Watched this show for the first time last evening (5th May) and have to say I was really impressed by the performances - all of them! These kids are really putting their heart and souls into it, and 10/10 for effort for each and every one of them. There's a lot of passion and energy .. unlike the wet weekends over on the other side - the Josephs (yawn).
Anyone of these kids could hold their own in the Grease stage ensemble (if not as the two main characters) and I do hope that some of them make the cast list in minor roles. I thought the tall guy (Bradley) would make a great Rizzo! I was sad to see Richard Morgan go. Ok so he's a bit clunky on stage but what a great voice, apart from the pub singer vibrato bit he does occasionally at the end of lines. I'm sure there must be an agent out there somewhere who would sign this kid up. Also love Danny Rhodes, and no not because of the stammer, but because of his wonderful singing voice, beautiful tone and depth .. although the song they did last night maybe didn't show it at its best.
I thought everyone was great, but stand out performances in terms of casting Danny and Sandy were Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden, Anthony Kavanagh and Alison Crawford, and Wayne Smith and Hayley Clarke. Must also put in a word for Michael Quinn for a fine 'vocal performance too. Not having seen any previous shows I understood from the judges comments that his voice hadn't come across too well in previous shows. It sounded fine last night ... again, with a real depth to it that hints of even better things to come.
There may be criticisms to be made of this show but none can be directed at the performers themselves. You can sense how much they all want it, and how much they are into everything they do, working on thieir weaknesses, improving on their strengths. Heart breaking when they get voted off, but of course that is the nature of these shows, and they know what they are getting into from the start.
Anyway, good luck to them all. They certainly entertained me!
Balls up indeed. What a muddle -- the two most polished performers with the best "look" (Danny B and Susan) have some of the least chemistry and likeability, while the two with the most charm and vulnerability (Danny R and Lauren) could never head a West End cast as Danny and Sandy. Danny R and Lauren are terrific. Admittedly, Danny R's stammer does give him a vulnerability that is quite appealing, but it's his voice -- rich, aching, and full -- that wins me over completely. She's a delight, too. Cute, pretty, sweet with a sassy edge peeking through. I love that natural, innocent chemistry they exude ontsage and in their backstage interviews. Are they Danny and Sandy? Not in a million years. Do I love them anyway? Yup. Someone please, please, please find a show for these two to do.
I just can't believe that anyone could be so stupid as to audition people in twos!!!
So if a clone of John Travolta was on the programme and was paired with a rubbish Sandy, he'd be out on his ear?
I think it is disgustingly, heartbreakingly, unfair to these aspiring, hard working, young hopefulls. The chances of having paired the right Sandys with the right Dannys, (same level of ability, i.e. Best, 2nd best, 3rd best, etc.) is over 40,000 to one of getting it right.
Whoever had such a 'bright' idea, should apologise, and foot the bill for a re-run of the selections.
Jose, Leics.
Hiya id just like to say that i think Vicky's great and would make a fab Sandy! Do it for the brunettes hun, your class! (and the prettiest sandy n the show!) So come on peeps they dont deserve to be in the bottom two - VOTE for them!
heya everyone it is the best thing going. i really like vicky hoyles
she is well fit
Anthony to win! Best singer of the lot and hes gaining more confidence each week! love him! :)
This show is a fix from the start, they know who they want to be Danny and Sandy so why let the others build their hopes up.
Its a shame to let Danny Rhodes continue for so long when they knew he was not good enough