2. IN 2006, the theatres in London, were awaiting a new musicial
to happen. Andrew Llyord Webber asked the public to search for a
Maria, Joseph, Nacey, Dorothy and Jesus.
During the searches, BBC and ITV searched high & low to find new
acts for these musicials. Eventally, Danielle Hope, Connie Fisher,
Lee Mead, Jodie Prenger and Ben Forster were crowned your
successful winners and went onto hit success & musicials in
London’s West End theatres.
3. Solving Maria- 2006h
In 2006, Llyord Webber asked the BBC to front a new reality
programme to search for Maria. The choosing of Maria was
down to the public. This was the very first time that the Great
British Public were allowed to choose Maria.
The show was presented live on BBC1 each Saturday night by
Graham Norton until on 16th September 2006 at 9:50pm, Connie
Fisher was declared winner!.
4. After winning Maria, Connie went onto perfoming 500 amazing and
fantastic perfomances of the Sound of Music in the London
Pallidium.
After 2 years of playing the role, Connie left the Sound of music
due to her voice. After being to doctors, Connie released a
album containing some of her songs from the show and some
new material after playing Maria in the Sound of Music.
5. Any Dream Will Do- 2007
In 2007, after the success of Maria, Andrew Llyord Webber asked the
public again to choose a leading man for Joseph. This was a personal
challenge for Andrew as Joseph is one of his most successful musicials
of all time.
After searching through the auditions, 12 were chosen for the live
shows until in May 2007, Lee Mead won the show and became your
Joseph.
6. After winning Any Dream Will Do, Lee Mead went onto success
playing the role of Joseph at the London Pallidium. Lee played a
brilliant Joseph and had 5 stars from his perfomances from the
show.
During his run of Joseph, Lee wrote and recorded 2 albums before
marrying Denise Van Outen. In 2009, Lee Mead finished his run as
Joseph and he has appeared in Casualty on BBC One.
7. I’d Do Anything- 2009
After the great success of Maria and Joseph, Andrew
Llyord Webber and Cameron Mackintosh team up to
find a Nacey and 2 Olivers.
Throughout the compettion, the girls had to battle
through 12 weeks to become the chosen nacey. In June
2009, Jodie Prenger won the search for Nacey.
8. Over The Rainbow?
In 2011, after the amazing searches of Maria, joseph & Nacey.
The BBC asked Andrew again to find a Dorothy to play a part
in the West End’s new revival of The Wizard of Oz.
After many auditions and searches, 16 went through to the live
shows until Danielle Hope won the show and became the
public Dorothy and played her part in the Wizard of Oz in the
London Pallidium.
9. Superstar
In 2012, after Andrew’s fantastic musicals with the British
Public, he asked the public to find a leading man to play Jesus.
This show was presented live on ITV1 with live auditions and
shows for the public to choose their winner.
In the end, after 5 amazing live shows, Ben Forster was
crowned winner and went on to thrill people at the live
stadium tour of Superstar with Mel C, Andrew Llyord Webber
and Jason Donvan.
10. Many Thanks
BBC ITV
Lee Mead
Connie Fisher
Jodie Prenger Ben Forster
Andrew Llyord Webber
Written By
TOM OATES