[Red Moon]

Hunt for a new Oliver begins with reality show

HERE have been TV searches for Maria and Joseph – now the BBC is looking for new stars for the musical Oliver!

I’d Do Anything, named after the famous song in the British musical, will see Andrew Lloyd Webber search for a new Nancy and three young proteges to play orphaned urchin Oliver over different nights in the West End.

It is the follow-up to How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? – which was won by Connie Fisher from Pembrokeshire – and Any Dream Will Do, which catapulted Lee Mead to stardom.

Graham Norton will host the new Saturday night BBC1 show and theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh will make his debut on the series, alongside a panel of judges.

The first series saw Lord Lloyd Webber cast Fisher as Maria Von Trapp in a new production of The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium.

She won rave reviews and has spoken about how the role changed her life.

Before she auditioned for the TV show, she was a call centre worker. “I’m on top of the world. My life has changed completely,” she said after being named as the new Maria.

And she spoke of her joy of following in the footsteps of her heroine, Dame Julie Andrews.

“For me, Julie Andrews is the cream of the crop. She’s a legend.”

Fisher, 24, is set to leave behind the role of the singing nun early next year but she already has a series of concerts lined up, including a performance at Cardiff International Arena on June 19.

Following the success of the TV show, there was a similar search for a new West End Joseph and Mead was eventually cast in the role. It was also revealed that Welsh X Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts auditioned but he failed to impress the judges in the early rounds.

The search for a new Oliver and Nancy, the girlfriend of Bill Sikes, will begin with auditions early next year.

Elaine Bedell, controller of entertainment commissioning, said, “We’re really pleased to be building on the success of Any Dream Will Do with a new search for West End stars next year.

“Oliver! is a much-loved British musical so we’re sure the show will unite families and melt hearts across the UK as we watch some of Britain’s best new talent take centre stage.”

Dickens’s second novel, Oliver Twist, was published in monthly instalments, beginning in 1837. It hit the London stage in 1960 and became a musical movie in 1968, starring Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes and winning five Oscars.Oliver Twist, was published in monthly instalments, beginning in 1837.

It hit the London stage in 1960 and became a musical movie in 1968, starring Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes and winning five Oscars.

Source: icWales

[Nicky.]

ooo i loved any dream wil do!!
cant wait 4 this 1! thanks!!