Post by Lynda on Jul 22, 2007 17:59:33 GMT
Lloyd-Webber to search for new Eliza Dolittle
Friday 6th July
The BBC is planning a follow-up to its hit talent search Any Dream Will Do talent with the hunt for My Fair Lady's Eliza Doolittle.
And, according to reports in The Sun, impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber is being lined-up to appear in the show, despite his theatre commitments.
The programme is one of three ideas being discussed by BBC bosses, who are also considering casting versions of Saturday Night Fever and Jesus Christ Superstar.
My Fair Lady was last toured theatres in 2006 with Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall playing Eliza - and insiders believe that TV executives prefer this idea to the other options as it would be looking for a female star.
One source said: "The first show - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? - looked for a female star, then Any Dream Will Do found a male lead for Joseph. It makes sense to alternate each year.
They added: "The danger with doing two male lead hunts on the trot is you may end up with many of the same lads who tried out for Joseph."
Any Dream Will Do was hugely popular with TV audiences, attracting more than seven million viewers.
Andrew's involvement in this latest project would be an incredible coup for the BBC as he had hinted at plans to take a break from TV to concentrate on his theatre work.
He plans to write a sequel to The Phanton Of The Opera and may also work on a TV hunt for Jesus Christ Superstar in the US.
Friday 6th July
The BBC is planning a follow-up to its hit talent search Any Dream Will Do talent with the hunt for My Fair Lady's Eliza Doolittle.
And, according to reports in The Sun, impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber is being lined-up to appear in the show, despite his theatre commitments.
The programme is one of three ideas being discussed by BBC bosses, who are also considering casting versions of Saturday Night Fever and Jesus Christ Superstar.
My Fair Lady was last toured theatres in 2006 with Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall playing Eliza - and insiders believe that TV executives prefer this idea to the other options as it would be looking for a female star.
One source said: "The first show - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? - looked for a female star, then Any Dream Will Do found a male lead for Joseph. It makes sense to alternate each year.
They added: "The danger with doing two male lead hunts on the trot is you may end up with many of the same lads who tried out for Joseph."
Any Dream Will Do was hugely popular with TV audiences, attracting more than seven million viewers.
Andrew's involvement in this latest project would be an incredible coup for the BBC as he had hinted at plans to take a break from TV to concentrate on his theatre work.
He plans to write a sequel to The Phanton Of The Opera and may also work on a TV hunt for Jesus Christ Superstar in the US.
