BB FANS

ANY DREAM WILL DO (BBC1)

HOST: Graham Norton

WHAT TO EXPECT: Hoping to repeat the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? the Beeb searches for an undiscovered talent to star in a new stage version of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The winner will follow in the mighty footsteps of Jason Donovan, Stephen Gately and Darren Day. Oh yes.

REVENGE OF X FACTOR LOUIS
20/03/2007

LOUIS Walsh is taking revenge on Simon Cowell for sacking him from The X Factor - by joining BBC show Any Dream Will Do.

The Irish music mogul - fired along with Kate Thornton - will help out the series in which people audition for the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

It will go head-to-head with ITV's rival Grease is the Word - which is produced by Cowell.

Louis is said to have jumped at the chance, A source revealed: "He was really hurt by the way Simon dropped him without even speaking to him directly.

"The BBC moved fast to ask if he'd like to help out.

"He is delighted to be working for the Beeb - and the fact that he'll be going up against Cowell's show makes it even sweeter." Mirror

Any Dream Will Do

Twelve men new to musical theatre have been short-listed to play the lead in the revival of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. BBC One's new Saturday evening show, Any Dream Will Do, will follow the casting of the musical.

Starting on March 31, two pre-recorded shows will cover the audition process and the series of lessons at “Joseph school”, before the 12 selected finalists face a public vote over the following eight weeks.

The finalists, who are aged between 17 and 35, include two school pupils, a builder, an amateur performer and a professional actor.

Both Torchwood star John Barrowman and vocal coach Zoe Tyler, judges on last year’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, return to join Andrew Lloyd Webber on the judging panel, which will also include co-producer Bill Kenwright and actress Denise Van Outen.

A series of guests, including lyricist Tim Rice, former Joseph stars Donny Osmond and Jason Donovan and former The X Factor judge Louis Walsh will make appearances during the series’ run.

In a separate competition, schools will be able to upload videos of their choir singing the Entr’acte from Joseph to the BBC website for rating by members of the public. The winning choir will perform live on the final BBC One show and appear on stage for a special Children in Need production of the musical. waveguide

TV REALITY STAR WARS

THE BBC and ITV are launching rival search-for-a-star reality shows on Saturday nights from next month.

Twelve boys will compete for the lead role of Joseph in the Beeb's Any Dream Will Do.
The show, hosted by Graham Norton, begins on March 31.

It follows the success of How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? won last year by Connie Fisher.

But it will be pitched against ITV1's Grease is the Word, starting April 7.

Hosted by Zoe Ball, eight couples are hoping to land the plum roles of Sandy and Danny.

All the winners will be guaranteed lead roles in West End productions.

Mirror

Denise declares war on Grease
Sun

Joseph: Meet the Judges Sun

Watched this tonight (mainly to see if I could spot someone I know which I did which made it worthwhile) and thought it was OK! Prefer listening to male singing voices than female anyway.

'Close Every Door' is going to get old quickly though.

I know Jezi they were all singing it
I found it ok really

Louis' revenge .. in Technicolor Sun

JOSEPH VIEWERS 'MISLED'
By Sean Hamilton Showbiz Editor 08/04/2007


ANY Dream Will Do finalist Lee Mead has already appeared in a professional production of Joseph - and is well known to judge Bill Kenwright, it was revealed last night.

Singer Lee played The Pharoah in a 2004 regional tour of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - directed by Kenwright.

And the Everton chairman helped choose the final 12 for the BBC1 talent hunt last night, when seasoned professional Lee, 25, of Brockley, South-East London, was only described as a "West-End understudy".


He also played the part in the London production when an actor fell sick.

Lee was playing a soldier in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera a few weeks ago. He is still on the cast list until he finds out his fate in Any Dream Will Do. A colleague said last night: "When I heard Lee made it to the final I was angry. It is assumed they'll be amateurs and hopefuls. The public are being misled."

Last night millions saw 50 hopefuls cut to 12 after performing at Lloyd Webber's castle. Untrained brickie Robert McVeigh, 23, of Rotherham, is the favourite to win. sundaymirror

8 April 2007
MAN FOR VAN
Denise has hots for Lee

TELLY beauty Denise Van Outen has the hots for hunky Any Dream Will Do finalist Lee Mead.

But Denise, 32, a judge on the show, has mis-judged Lee - he already has a girlfriend.

People

Joseph: Meet the final twelve Sun

It's Lloyd Of The Stings Sun

Well my Saturday nights are now planned out for the next few weeks! Bottle of wine with a friend while we pic our favourite Joseph. I liked Lee and Keith and thought Chris who went was the weakest one tonight. Still felt sorry for him at the end though.

That end must be absolute torture after finding out you've been chucked... and if it is anything like last year it's always the best they've sung the whole way through when they get the chance to sing something musical theatre.

I think he deserved to go but didn't think a great deal of Antony either.

Really liked Daniel and Lee... was thankful I liked Lee or I could've been in for a battering hee hee!