AN
Andrew
Founding member
Graham Norton is to front a new BBC1 Saturday night reality TV show, which will search for the star of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage version of The Sound of Music.
Norton will be helping Lord Lloyd Webber in his Musicality style quest to fill the role of Maria, made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1964 film version of The Sound of Music.
The BBC1 show, named after a song in the musical - How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? - will be broadcast later this year and will feature legendary composer and theatre producer Lord Lloyd Webber and the leading West End producer, David Ian.
Through auditions, training, live performances and a public vote, talented hopefuls will try to prove themselves to the experts and the nation and win the chance to play Maria at the London Palladium.
This series will follow the well-trodden reality talent format path of pre-recorded auditions, live performance and live results shows.
The money raised from phone voting will set up a bursary to gives hopefuls a chance to get a foothold in musical theatre. The BBC1 controller, Peter Fincham, called the show "a unique and exciting project". "The combination of The Sound of Music, some of the biggest names in theatre and a hunt for a new star is irresistible," Mr Fincham added. Despite criticism from within the theatrical world that Lord Lloyd Webber is handing such a prestigious job to an unknown, instead of a trained actor, he was unrepentant about getting the BBC involved.
Ten wannabes will make it through to the live TV shows where they will perform for the panel and viewers. The public vote will then pick the winner. Norton's BBC1 career has been moving in a decidedly song-and-dance direction. He is currently presenting a second series of Strictly Dance Fever and has previously hosted a Christmas special in celebration of The Sound of Music.
Norton will be helping Lord Lloyd Webber in his Musicality style quest to fill the role of Maria, made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1964 film version of The Sound of Music.
The BBC1 show, named after a song in the musical - How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? - will be broadcast later this year and will feature legendary composer and theatre producer Lord Lloyd Webber and the leading West End producer, David Ian.
Through auditions, training, live performances and a public vote, talented hopefuls will try to prove themselves to the experts and the nation and win the chance to play Maria at the London Palladium.
This series will follow the well-trodden reality talent format path of pre-recorded auditions, live performance and live results shows.
The money raised from phone voting will set up a bursary to gives hopefuls a chance to get a foothold in musical theatre. The BBC1 controller, Peter Fincham, called the show "a unique and exciting project". "The combination of The Sound of Music, some of the biggest names in theatre and a hunt for a new star is irresistible," Mr Fincham added. Despite criticism from within the theatrical world that Lord Lloyd Webber is handing such a prestigious job to an unknown, instead of a trained actor, he was unrepentant about getting the BBC involved.
Ten wannabes will make it through to the live TV shows where they will perform for the panel and viewers. The public vote will then pick the winner. Norton's BBC1 career has been moving in a decidedly song-and-dance direction. He is currently presenting a second series of Strictly Dance Fever and has previously hosted a Christmas special in celebration of The Sound of Music.
