Sorry, I have no idea. My cousin was working at the Manchester Opera House at the time and we got free tickets because the understudy was performing.

As I say, I enjoyed his performance - I thought he was great - but I can't deny that there was a bit of a dip in atmosphere from either of the other shows I watched at the same venue.

I don't really see an issue with Ray looking too young to play Danny - considering the characters are 18 year old high school students! As for the singing, I think the main problem with Ray on X Factor was that, like Rhydian, his voice does not ideally suit pop music and I imagine he'd be very good for musical theatre, particularly the style of Grease.

Personally he doesn't really hit me as heart-throb leading man material but I know there are plenty of others who would disagree but I certainly wouldn't write him off without seeing him perform the role.

As for the whole celeb casting thing, I don't think it's such an issue in this case as it is with the people who get shoe-horned into roles because of their TV status. At least Ray has proper singing/dancing/acting training.

I imagine Jess will be heading for Chicago fairly soon, can't remember how strong her voice was from Liberty X but physically could see her doing it, maybe a Velma?

That's totally what the understudy is for but with a lot of the celeb casting, people are only buying their tickets to see the celeb in question. I'm sure performance wise they are all more than up to the job (more so in the case of Kerry Ellis vs Martine McCutcheon!) but some people buying tickets will always be more concerned with seeing their favourite.

I understand the point being made, but I don't think it is only applicable to celeb or stunt casting as it has been called on here. Plenty of people book tickets for West end shows hoping to see the main lead actors who have made their parts their own.

I was also partly responding to the post where I thought that a dig at Ray was being made as when the poster mentioned that Ray was ill for the his last few performances as Doody in Grease they put quote marks around the word ill.

Exactly. I was gutted when I didn't get Kerry Ellis!

I felt the same way when I went to see Buddy the second time and didn't see Alex Bourne and also one of the times I saw We Will Rock You Tony Vincent was ill.

No i dont some people just like to put Ray down whatever he does though so that the real problem

he has been in grease before David Ian I think his name is always picks a good cast so I'm sure he see's Danny in Ray for him to play the part

so dont worry what people say who have not even seen him play Dooody and have no plans to see him play Danny to change their views

I can't comment on her voice, but I honestly can't see Jess in Chicago as I get the feeling she is too shy for that kind of role and it would be way out of her comfort zone. I could be completely wrong though.

David Ian is very astute (he was one of the jusges on How do you Solve a Problem like Maria). What is more he has seen Ray on stage as Doody and clearly thinks he has the charisma and skill to play the part - and Ray must be good to work with, or else he would not wish to re-employ him. I think the fact that ticket sales soared to see Grease when Ray was in it, might have put to rest any little niggles he may, or maynot have had to rest.

I agree - however nice she is, Jess is neither a dancer or an actress. She is also not West End type of material in my view, and would be very surprised if she ended up there. she seems more interested in resuming her recording material.

Hear Hear.

I think he'll be great in the role of Danny.

I didnt know that about ticket sales when Ray joined

Yes - lots of people went just to see Ray

What?! I was only saying!! I don't know if he was ill or just couldn't be arsed to finish his contract!

You know "what?"

Personally I can't see Jessica being offered a role in any West End show, the difference with Ray is that he had already been in the West End and indeed in Grease and as others hve said got good reviews and caused a surge in ticket sales. I think he was already being considered as a replacement for Danny from things I heard him having such a success in DOI just confirmed it

Alot of people who will book tickets on the strength of a celeb being in a west end show are not the type of people who would usually go and see a west end show. As such they would not bother going to see any other show no matter how well the lead had "made the part their own". I think the point being made was that those who only go to see a west end show on the basis of a celeb lead are disappointed when that lead is ill and the understudy performs instead - no matter how good that understudy might be. To these sort of west end show goers its like going to see a girls aloud in concert and having three out of the five girls replaced by someone else - even if those girls might be better. They are not there to see the "show" they are there to see the celeb.

I think if Jessica wins there is a possibility. Personally I find her lacking in charisma. She was much more feisty and opinionated when she did the original Pop Stars - no idea what happened to her in the meantime.

If she wins she may get some presenting work on some remote satelite channel - other than that I can see her disappering into oblivion.

As I said I did understand the point being made.

Good luck to Ray in his new theatre role, a part in Grease will be a very exciting role for him.

Chicago just seems to have a habit of picking people up from the reality shows - Jill Halfpenny, Clare Sweeney, Suzanne Shaw, Bonnie Langford ... obviously Bonnie has a huge theatrical pedigree but as far as I'm aware the others did not necessarily. Would just be interested to see what Jess does next.

I think Clare Sweeney had already been in Chicago before she did Strictly - she'd had a little bit of dance/musical experience prior to Chicago... As you say, though, the others were picked as a result of shows like Strictly and Dancing on Ice.

suzanne had been in mamma mia before DOI and Bonnie is a very seasoned performer, Jill Halfpenny too is a trained actress and also probably a very good singer and dancer beofre hand - often these ones that have been on soaps have a much broader skill base than the soap they are famous for would show. Jess is neither of these things, she is definately not an actress ( whatever Ruthie thinks) and she is only famous for singing as a member of a group. She does not seem like the likely sort to go on West End stage, but guess stranger things have happened

I dont even think Jess wants to go in the westend she has been recording with kelly and is going round labels now to try and get it signed i think she needed the profile to be in with a chance to get signed as bad as that sound

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere but rest of Grease cast has been announced:

http://www.davidianproductions.com/archives/348

Can't believe Ray managed to get his gf as Sandy. She wasn't even an understudy!!