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I'd Do Anything (2008 TV series)

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I'd Do Anything
Created byAndrew Lloyd Webber
Presented byGraham Norton
JudgesAndrew Lloyd Webber
John Barrowman
Denise Van Outen
Barry Humphries
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series1
No. of episodes16 (as of 11 May 2008)
Production
Running time30-90mins
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release15 March, 2008 –
present

I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom currently being broadcast on BBC One.[1][2] It premièred on 15 March 2008.[3] The show is searching for a new, unknown lead to play Nancy and three young performers who will take it in turns to play Oliver in a West End revival of the British musical Oliver!.[2]

The show, named after the song "I'd Do Anything", is being hosted by Graham Norton with Andrew Lloyd Webber again overseeing the programme,[4] together with theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh. In January 2008, John Barrowman confirmed he would be taking part in the show.[5] The BBC also confirmed in late February 2008 that Barry Humphries would join Barrowman and Denise Van Outen on the judging panel of the show.[6][7]

Auditions for the show began in January 2008,[2] with the show currently airing on BBC One throughout March, April and May 2008.[8]

Format

Commissioned after the success of the two similar BBC series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, the series follows the same format to find a new unknown lead, but with two roles rather than one as in the previous two series. However, whilst the format for the Nancy is the same with the public choosing the winner, the three boys who will play the part of Oliver will be chosen by the judging panel.[9]

Criteria

Auditions took place in 2008; in Belfast on 24 January, Manchester on 26-27 January, London from 1 to 3 February and Glasgow on 6 February with auditions for both parts taking place at the same venues and dates.[8]

Nancy

For the role of Nancy applicants needed to be aged 17 or over on 1 January 2008, with the playing age being 17-35. Entry was open to both amateur and professional performers. Stages one and two were the same as for the part of Oliver. At stage three though, the call-backs took place between 16 and 18 February when the show's panel interviewed the auditionees. There were then workshops and final audition performances between 21 and 26 February; and throughout mid-March, April and May for the television show.[8] The "Nancys" are trying to impress the panel, and from programme three, have been trying to gain viewer support to stay in with a chance of winning the role of Nancy. [3]

Oliver

For the role of Oliver applicants needed to be at least nine on 1 January 2008 and no older than 14 on 31 December 2008 with the part of Oliver being from nine to twelve years old.[8] The auditions are in two stages. Those who made it through to the second stage were filmed and then twelve young performers went go through to stage three, the live television show where each week they are learning a piece to perform on the show. Eight boys will go through to the semi-final. Three boys will be chosen in the final stage with one of the final three performing at the press night of Oliver![8] Following expert advice in providing a duty of care to child contributors, the BBC announced on 13 March that the boys will not face a public vote, and that each week the "Olivers" would be performing musical tasks, learning the tricks of the theatre trade and also perform as a group, before the judging panel make their final choices.[3][9]

Auditions

The first programme, which aired on 15 March, charted the journeys of thousands of auditionees as they begin their quest for stardom in the regional auditions.[3]

For the role of Nancy, just over a hundred girls were called to London to perform before the panel. Those who stood out then had the chance to win a place at Nancy School, the next stage in the competition. For the role of Oliver, fifty young boys were selected to work with musical theatre experts before the final twelve were chosen for the live shows by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh.[3]

The second programme, which aired on 22 March, focussed mainly on the 42 girls at Nancy School and the procedure of finding the final twelve girls to compete in the weekly live show for the part of Nancy. The twelve boys who will compete on the live show for the part of Oliver were also introduced throughout the programme.

Weekly format

Saturday - Live

The show opens with a group number by the Nancys and Olivers. Each Nancy then performs a song, with feedback provided by the panel and Lloyd Webber. The public votes for the contestant they wish to keep in the show. Voting closes shortly after the broadcast of the Saturday programme.

Footage of the Olivers' progress is shown, during which Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh select one to proceed through to the semi-final.

Sunday - Recorded after live show on Saturdays.

The Oliver who was announced as a semi-finalist takes the lead with the other Olivers in a song. After the results of the public vote have been processed, the two Nancys with the least number of votes enter a "sing-off". Lloyd Webber then chooses which Nancy from the "sing-off" to save each week. The eliminated Nancy takes the lead in their sing-out medley of "Be Back Soon" and "As Long as He Needs Me".

Finalists

Nancy [10] [11]
Finalist Age * From Status
Amy Booth-Steel[12]
24
Birmingham Eliminated 1st
on 30 March
Cleopatra Royer[13]
22
London Eliminated 2nd
on 6 April
Tara Bethan[14][15]
24
Clwyd Eliminated 3rd
on 13 April
Francesca Jackson[16][15]
24
West Glamorgan Eliminated 4th
on 20 April
Keisha Amponsa-Banson[17]
23
Harrow, London Eliminated 5th
on 27 April
Sarah Lark[18][15]
25
Glamorgan Eliminated 6th
on 4 May
Ashley Russell [19]
24
Edinburgh Eliminated 7th
on 11 May
Jessie Buckley[20]
18
County Kerry
Jodie Prenger[21][22]
28
Lancashire
Niamh Perry[23]
17
County Down
Rachel Tucker[24]
26
Belfast
Samantha Barks[25]
17
Laxey, the Isle of Man

* as of the start of the series

In the week leading up to the second programme a story arose in the national media that one of the "Nancys", Francesca Jackson, is a friend of judge Denise Van Outen. They had met when they both appeared in the musical Rent Remixed. The BBC responded by stating that "Denise and Francesca have worked together. It will be clear to viewers they have. Francesca gained her place on merit."[26]

Oliver [15] [27]
Finalist Age * From Semi-finalist
Alexander
11
London announced on 26 April
Arthur
10
Bristol announced on 12 April
Chester
12
Middlesex announced on 5 April
Gareth
12
Derry
Gwion
11
Carmarthenshire announced on 29 March
Harry
12
Oxfordshire announced on 3 May
Jonny
13
Warwickshire
Jordan
13
Clwyd
Joseph
10
Berkshire
Kwayedza
13
Kent announced on 19 April
Laurence
11
Cheshire announced on 10 May
Sam
10
Hampshire

* as of the start of the series

Week one (29/30 March)

Gwion was announced as the first Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Amy was the first Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
Missions
Sing-off
  • Amy and Francesca were in the sing-off, with Amy having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Tell Me on a Sunday" (from the musical of the same name).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Francesca and eliminate Amy.[29]

Week two (5/6 April)

Chester was announced as the second Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show[30] and Cleo was the second Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
Missions
Sing-off
  • Cleo and Keisha were in the sing-off, with Keisha having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "I Know Him So Well" (from the musical Chess).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Keisha and eliminate Cleo.[31]

Week three (12/13 April)

Arthur was announced as the third Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Tara was the third Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
Missions
Sing-off
  • Keisha and Tara were in the sing-off, with Keisha having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (from the film The Wizard of Oz).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Keisha and eliminate Tara.

Week four (19/20 April)

Kwayedza was announced as the fourth Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Francesca was the fourth Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
Missions
Sing-off
  • Ashley and Francesca were in the sing-off, with Ashley having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Whistle Down The Wind" (from the musical of the same name).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Ashley and eliminate Francesca.

Week five (26/27 April)

Alexander was announced as the fifth Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Keisha was the fifth Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday.

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
Missions
Sing-off
  • Keisha and Niamh were in the sing-off, with Keisha having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "The Rose" (from the film of the same name).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Niamh and eliminate Keisha. Before announcing his decision he said, "First, I'm going to say this is a complete and utter travesty, neither of you should be in the bottom two, it's completely wrong. I've been put into a situation that I have never wanted to be in. For the first time on a television show, I am angry." And after choosing to eliminate Keisha, he told her, "You were absolutely wonderful. I think you have a huge career ahead of you and all I can say is that I'll do anything I can to help you."[32][33]

Week six (3/4 May)

Harry was announced as the sixth Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Sarah was the sixth Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday. The Olivers voted to choose one Nancy to perform with them on the Results Show and chose Sarah. Andrew Lloyd Webber also gave each Nancy a "master class" to learn the sing-off song.

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
Individual performances (in order of performance)
  • All the songs were Big band numbers with Lloyd Webber working with each of the Nancys in the week before the show to improve their performance, focussing on their acting abilities.
Missions
Sing-off
  • Rachel and Sarah were in the sing-off, with Rachel having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "As If We Never Said Goodbye " (from the musical Sunset Boulevard).
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Rachel and eliminate Sarah, saying "I have to think as a producer and I do think Rachel was rock solid, and there were moments that I did think that maybe you were a bit fragile", adding "but you were wonderful and you did exactly what I asked."[34]

Week seven (10/11 May)

Laurence was announced as the seventh Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show and Ashley was the seventh Nancy to be eliminated in the Results show on Sunday. The Olivers voted to choose one Nancy to perform with them on the Results Show and chose Niamh. During the week Lloyd Webber took the Nancy's to the O2 Arena to see Celine Dion in concert.

The show performances and missions were:[28]

Group performances
The Battle of the Nancys

Andrew Lloyd Webber divided the Nancy's by age into two trios to perform two songs -

Individual performances (in order of performance)
  • All the songs were chosen to show the different aspects of Nancy's character.
Missions

Sing-off:

  • Ashley and Niamh were in the sing-off, with Ashley having received the lowest number of viewers votes. They sang "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from the musical Evita.
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Niamh and eliminate Ashley saying, "I've said Niamh is a little young for this, and I was very hard on you, Ashley," then saying "In the end, I've got to save Niamh." To Ashley he said, "I do want to say that you are a fantastic talent, but you don't communicate it on stage," adding that he would love to work with her one day, and that her drama students "should be very proud."[35]

Criticism

In March 2008, the BBC drew criticism from American actor, Kevin Spacey, the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Company for airing shows such as I'd Do Anything and Any Dream Will Do which he claimed were distorting the theatre market in favour of musicals instead of straight plays.[36] Spacey said, "I felt that was essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical - where's our 13-week programme?" and that he thought the BBC's talent shows were "crossing the line" and "unfair". The BBC responded that it "always reflected" other West End shows in its talent programmes. Adding that the shows were not unduly promotional and that the shows "celebrate musical theatre generally, not just one West End show". They also pointed out that the BBC had no commercial interest in the West End productions of Oliver!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat or The Sound Of Music.[37]

Spacey's comments were criticised by Simon Cowell who stated, "It sounds like Russia in the Sixties, that mentality. I don't think that applies to the modern world. What the BBC does is very good for the West End because it reminds millions of people what the West End is all about – they're going to sell a lot of tickets off the back of that." [36]

On 19 April it was revealed that Spacey had apologised to Andrew Lloyd Webber for his comments.[38]

References

  1. ^ Reeve-Crook, Antony (2007-12-21). "BBC follows Maria and Joseph with Oliver!". C21 Media. Retrieved 2007-12-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "BBC One announces its search for stars of Oliver!". BBC. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e "It's almost showtime..." BBC. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Darvell, Michael (2008-12-21). "Andrew to help BBC find Oliver!". Andrew Lloyd Webber. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Hemley, Matthew (2008-01-08). "The torch-bearer - John Barrowman". The Stage. Retrieved 2008-01-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Barry Humphries to join panel of I'd Do Anything". BBC. 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2007-02-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Meet the judges!". BBC. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2008-03-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e Darvell, Michael (January, 2008). "I'd Do Anything – Lionel Bart's Oliver – Graham Norton & Andrew Lloyd Webber reunite on BBC1 Television to find a new Nancy and three new Olivers". classicalsource.com. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b "No viewer vote for BBC's Oliver". BBC News. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Nancy Contestants". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Shenton, Mark (2008-03-23). "A Dozen "Nancy" Finalists Announced in Oliver! Reality Casting Series". Playbill. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Amy". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Cleopatra". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Tara". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b c d "Welsh Nancy and Oliver hopefuls". BBC News. 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "BBC7309725" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Francesca". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Keisha". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Sarah". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Ashley". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Jessie". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Jodie". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Gomm, Elizabeth (2008-03-24). "Blackpool's Jodie steps nearer to Nancy role". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Niamh". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Rachel". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "Nancy Contestants - Samantha". BBC. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Roberts, Brian (2008-03-19). "I'd Do Anything finalist Francesca Jackson friends with judge Denise Van Outen". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-03-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Meet the Olivers!". BBC. 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ a b c d e f g "Music on the Night". BBC. 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-03-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Reviewing the Situation: Week One Result". BBC. 2008-03-30. Retrieved 2008-03-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "He Could be Oliver!". BBC. 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Reviewing the Situation: Week Two Result". BBC. 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2008-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "I'd Do Anything". 1. Episode 12. 2008-04-27.
  33. ^ "Reviewing the Situation: Week Five Result". BBC. 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-04-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "Reviewing the Situation: Week Six Result: Sarah was the sixth Nancy out". BBC. 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Reviewing the Situation: Week Seven Result: Ashley was the seventh Nancy to leave". BBC. 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-05-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ a b Midgley, Neil (2008-04-18). "Simon Cowell responds to Kevin Spacey's Andrew Lloyd Webber comments". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Spacey complains over BBC shows". BBC. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ "Kevin's put back in his Space". The Sun. 2008-04-19. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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