BEN has been the dark horse and is getting better all the time - if we are going to get someone FRESH & NEW for Joseph then he should walk it.

Lee has been working in ALW Theatres and is 25 years old why has he not been spotted or is it just a plain con to get Free Publicity? - Lee is a good ensemble member!

Don't forget that Keith has the "Tesco Vote". There's over 150,000 people working for Tesco in this country and I'm sure they must have some of their salary deducted for the Keith "voting line" fund.

At 25, one is hardly washed up as a performer. He needed visibility, which he's gotten on this show.

Being a good ensemble member is extremely important in a leading man, by the way.

Exactly, some people seem to think musical theatre is like pop music, where you're seen to have failed if you haven't 'made it' by the time you're 20. As you say, experience in lesser roles makes someone far more suitable for a major role than a talented teenager with hardly any experience.

I agree - being able to integrate into any ensemble, sometimes at short notice, is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to a lead role. Inspiring confidence from day one is very important to the smooth running of the performance, and some of the younger contenders would find this difficult. The other cast members need to have the confidence that Mr X will deliver, every time, and some of the younger contestants in ADWD make me nervous - and I'm at home sitting on the sofa!!!

Keith or Craig i think will win, maybe even Lewis is ALW keeps saving him.

But Ben has a terrible attitude, and, isn't very good.

Actually I think it's Ben's attitude that has got him back into the competition - when he cared about what ALW thought he bundled with the nerves. As soon as he stopped caring he started to shine. And he is toning it down now - that initial boost seems to have done the trick.

I think Keith has a great voice but is too young to be Joseph. Looks like the panel are starting to favour Ben and Lee. bit unfair on the others when Lee has a lot more experience........personally I don't like him.
I really want Craig to do well, I think each week he gets better and better.

It's become more and more obvious to me from reading other threads over the weekend, that some viewers are voting for their favourite - regardless of whether he is right for the part!

Not only that, but they are incandescent with rage when ALW rejects that favourite. Some erstwhile viewers will not be voting at all from now on, because they are no longer watching the show.

It is clear that ADWD is an exercise to find the best man to play Joseph in the West End - it's very simple and straight forward.

There are probably 4 men left who 'could be Joseph' and if I vote at all, it'll be for the one I think would make the best Joseph, and the one I would pay money to watch. At the moment in fact, I'd pay money to see any of the remaining men, apart from Keith

If you are referring to Daniel's fans - the reason they voted for him is that they really believed that he was right for the part. Being upset that he was dumped out so spectacularly on Saturday night after giving such an amazing sing-off is particularly hard to come to terms with.

Everyone has calmed down a bit now ... Daniel was never going to be ALWs choice of Joseph - he has said as much. He wants someone young and fresh. But it does begger the question why put the boys through the sing-off if his mind is already made up about who suits the role.

You may not have a favourite who you truly believe is right for the role - and therefore your vote will be based I guess on who impresses you most on the night.

For all those who are following one particularly performer, and with all their heart believe that they are right for the role, will no doubt continue to be devoted to their cause.

As it happens, I agree with you that I would be happy to see any of the final few now, apart from Keith and perhaps Lewis ... Lewis needs to show me he can really perform to change my mind.

Cleo1

I think the attitude that BEN has is right as a performer, on your presumption how about those who cry or run away with pressure are they right?

Not exclusively Daniel fans, but they do seem the most vociferous and many of them appear to have missed the point!

I supported Seamus because I thought he had it all - but ALW thought differently - fair enough. I didn't contemplate never watching the programme again when Seamus left, as I find the process entertaining.

Some of the disaffected fans don't seem to accept that it isn't a singing competition, it's a search for a man to play a specific role, involving singing, dancing, acting and charisma.

We're only human, so we'll all warm to some Josephs more than others, for very disparate and probably irrelevant reasons I just feel that a sense of proportion is lacking for some - although I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinion

Absolutly! Having just read 3 more posts claiming that Ben has an attitude problem, I'm a bit fired up about this.

This 'bad attitude' has made an 18 year old boy, who week after week is told he's not up to scratch by the judges, listens to his fellow Joesph's tell him he can't do it and has faced 2 sing offs, bounce back from being the rank outsider to second favourite. No one else has shown much belief in this kid, his confidence has had to come from himself. And he has totally turned it round. He shines in the mid week tasks, his performances are brilliant, he's got the most stage presence and on Sat's group performance his charisma made him stand out against my personal favourite Lee. Even Lee crumbleed a bit after he got some bad comments, but Ben has taken it all on the chin. He doesn't whine or moan about being ill or bad weeks, he just gets on with it. He's shown real strength of character, resilience and self belief - all qualities which are vital in leading men and he's had to do that with people constantly trying to undermine him. It annoys me no end (no offence Cleo1) when people refer to a moment when he was sticking to his guns and showing faith in himself (and lets not forget the panel backed him up that week) as 'bad attitude'. I only wish my attitude was that bad.

If ALW does knock out Lee for age, then for me Ben is the only other leading man in the contest and he's worked damn hard to prove it. He's got a right to be confident without people constantly trying to make him play the victim.

(Phew deep breath... time for a cup of tea me thinks)

I think you'll find most Daniel fans will continue watching. Lee was my second favourite, although I'm going to watch with interest now as I think some of the others have come into play.

As I mentioned, I think things are calming down and the initial 'claws out' reaction has softened.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the result on Saturday was appalliing but I will continue watching and I will vote, if I feel someone impresses me enough to do so.

I value your opinion ... we might not absolutely agree, but almost

That's what makes the threads interesting though - if we all held exactly the same view, it'd be very boring

During all the Lee vs Dan ping-ponging Craig, and now Ben, have sneaked in the back door and the gbp are enjoying watching them change I reckon. TV gone nuts for theatre? Possibly, but ALW knows his stuff alright. He repeats every week "Nurturing not torturing" and with this in mind, it's working. We loves the ones who are doing it!

Lee has always done it, so will he be able to keep fending off blows, that get bigger each week, by two very determind showmen like Craig and Ben?

We'll see.
'Citing

I was actually going to cote for the first time this Saturday for Lee as his performance of Paint it Black was outstanding - couldn't get through on the phone number as it was permantly engaged

"Paint it Back" for me was shouting more than singing, thus the problems with his veins - I hope we now get a BEN - Lee final when AWL has no casting vote, though Lee could go in the semi's??

Lee is the most talented, and as for his veins, your not going to be watching the show as a close up on him on tv in the west end! ben can't do slow songs.

if lee stands before an audience and sings in a loincloth i am quite sure if his veins( however much they may or not protrude) stick out will be the last thing people are looking at.

I agree Binny

if the performances are similar next saturday I will probably vote for Lee

ALW has been saying that this was an open competition from the start and I think I am finally seeing where he is coming from.

I think Lee will get to the final. The only danger is that he is given something too samey and people get tired of him. I won't but others might. I honestly think that the other place/s are up for grabs. It's going to depend on which song choices they are given.

A few thoughts.

Ben really did sing out of his skin during that singoff with Seamus. If he does that again he could do it. I still don't think his voice is good enough but Joseph isn't that tough a sing and he would be/ is being well prepared.

Lewis has got the ability in him for sure and ALW thinks so too. He is improving- he coped with the singoff very well and it is not impossible that he could use the emotion of last week to free himself up and relax. That would work wonders. It's interesting that now that he has the ghost of a chance the knocking thread against him has appeared on here. I find that encouraging.

I think that Craig has given us his best shot. He is going to have to work hard to find something to grab people's attention and rake in votes. He is the only one left who I'm not certain could ever really hack it. I wish he could because I admire his determination.

Keith has a wonderful voice but he is not ready to be Joseph in other areas. He doesn't have the physicality or the acting ability- yet. It just wouldn't work. If I were ALW I would be really worried about Keith in the short term as I think that he probably has a stronger fan base than anyone would guess. In the long term I would be wondering how I could showcase him when he has matured a bit.

At this stage, I think that anyone left is capable of singing the role. Some would be better than others, some you feel 'safer' with than others.

It calls for a lot more than 'just singing' however, and I think that's where the biggest differences between the Josephs are most apparent. Acting ability, dancing, stage presence, stamina and charisma - this combination will probably swing it for the ultimate winner - along with 'a voice' not necessarily 'the best voice'!