Apparently the BBC went totally OTT with Francesca & her bad chest - they insisted she went to the hospital even though she didn't think it was necessary & followed her all the way.....

.....so I don't think you can blame her at all, neither do I think she is a pre-chosen one as I'm sure she, like other professionals, is only on the show because their agents insist they go along. The majority of the pros would far rather go to ordinary auditions & get chosen on merit & previous experience than the whole reality show merry-go-round - but the agents hold the whip.

Actually a lot of AGENTS did not want thier Clients to go along, because of all the politics that goes with these shows and the agents do not get anything out of it, because it was an open, it was not audition but subittance from your agent. Also if anyone was to do well, then they are more likely to be snatched by bigger and more experienced agents. Also it must not be forgotten that all though a performer brings in a certain amount of income to an Agent, the Agents work For the performer, not the other way around.

Quick question... does anyone know the music that was playing in the background after John Barrowman had touched the shoulders of the unsuccessful Nancys, and the successful ones were celebrating?

Thanks!

I don't personally know anyone whose agent MADE them go- but I do have a few friends whose agents suggested that they do (quite big musical theatre agents too). Some of them went and some of them said no- and it was no problem. To be honest it seems to me that most people I know- that were right for the part- went for it.

Luckily my agent didn't bring it up, as the answer would have been a big fat resounding NO! As much as i respect those that do it- reality television is just not for me, I want to be on the stage and have absolutely no desire to be on television as myself- in fact I'd hate it!

I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about with "Nancy Nancy". She looks right and has the spunky cockney lass thing going on but her voice is totally wrong for the part. It's far too thin to carry off those massive songs and much much more suited to Eponine, a role I think she will be fantastic in.

Probably because they have their chosen one - whoever that may be - and realistic threats are not allowed to challenge.

I was surprised last year at how weak the Josephs were, following a relatively strong batch of Marias. I honestly didn't know Connie would win that until the last night whereas with Lee it was obvious from day one and I think it will be this time again.

I really sympathise with that- talent should be able to speak for itself and be judged on its own merit, or lack of it. Sadly that leaves people in creative industries in a very difficult position.
To get on now you need to learn to ice skate or eat grubs.

I thought he played Mr Sowerbury back then and Fagin a bit later.

Have been reading everyone's comments with great interest. My son auditioned in Manchester. We naively went along, thinking it would be 'fair and square'. Son found himself in a group of 24 - guess which little lad went through to next stage - boy who's in Sound of Music (Kurt, I think). Son said he wasn't THAT good. Audition had them dancing (nothing said about this in audition notes), and they sung four lines of 'Consider Yourself', which we didn't practice cos Oliver doesn't sing it!! Like getting Nancy to sing 'Gotta Pick a Pocket'. Still it was a good experience. I think that BBC have lost their nerve with the Olivers, don't want to see little boys crying on TV! How are they going to eliminate them 'live'???

Did your son enjoy the whole experience? Has it made him want to get into show business more, or put him right off??!!

He was Mr Sowerberry in the original and understudied Fagin right through and onto Broadway but Fagin was never ill! BH said he fantasised about poisoning him during the run I recall.
He played Fagin in the recent Cameron Macintosh revival though.

He first played Fagin when Oliver! returned to the West End at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1967.

I stand corrected!!!!

Oh and I thought it was Mrs Everidge giving us a taste of her Nancy lol

Actually that could make it interesting Dame Edna as Nancy!!
pity Madge passed away recently because she could have played Bet.

I can't pick the winner out at all unlike Lee last year.

Can anyone help me with music used on Saturdays programme (22 March). When the Lord was telling the girls if they were in the final 12 there was a intrumental piece of music playing over him. Has previously been used in Strictly and when I tried to find out what it was, was told it was from the film the Piano but checked and it's not. Cheers

why not get it up on iplayer
get your mobile phone
dial 2580 and hold your phone to the computer
give it a few seconds and hey presto,
text back with all the info.

[quote=Angua;22476066]
Oh come on!
If they wanted Vicki Pollard and her mates to upstage Harry Potter then they would have asked for the local Comp
as it is they wanted bland boarding school types to tie in with Harry and his mates.
If it had been the local comp as extras when the director yelled cut, half would have got the razor blades out and the other half would just stare into space.
It's Gloucester!
I'm surprised they didn't ship them all in from Cheltenham.







yeah I escaped the place a long time ago
and don't tell me it's changed,
Fred & Rose West managed to go undetected because they blended so well into the local community.

Well i doubt you picked lee out before the live shows because he was hardly featured in the audition rounds

They probably did as I liked him and Seamus.
Alas Seamus's attitude

He featured enough! He was my favourite right from the start too.

Not at all Mr Cynicism I only know her first name and there was no other way of distinguishing her from the other Nancy(s).
Anyway, I have just watched Saturday's show and she was eliminated....I suppose I will change my mind each week as the girls up their game.
What a drama queen John is though - milking it for everything.
I wish I didn't like him so much

Now they have announced who will play Fagin, what do we think of this?????

On the first eveningof Nancy school, the girls had to learn a section of a song, and they were told they would have to perform it, then as a little twist and a surprise, they said they had a special guest.
Then from behind them appeard Ben Richard who was Danny in Gease in the West End as well as having done other shows but also well know for Footballers Wives and the Bill.
So Denise told the Nancys that Ben would be thier Bill Sykes for the day. So the girls performed in groups of threes and he had to pick his favourite Nancy of the 3, each time. Now this was quite a big thing at NANCY school, so why did they not show it on TV?????? Is it possibly because they have already cast Ben as Bill Sykes and didn't want to reveal it on the TV to the public yet.
I am not sure myself, but I do think as good of a performer as he is, I think he may be way too pretty for Sykes, but makeup and costume can do wonders.

Another little interesting detail is that, during one group of 3, Sam (final12) reall got his attention, he was a bit taken a back, not just because she is gorgeous, but he asked her how old she was and when she said 17, he said "oh my god, this is dangerous" Blatantly refering to such a young girl, giving him such feelings. He was definitely stirred, I wont say where, and then he went on to pick her as his favoutire Nancy out of that 3 as she got his attention and really held it.

Thoughts????

Hmm, very interesting playhousechick, great to have all this additional info - keep it coming (if you can)

I'm not sure where I got this from (I may have fabricated it from the air) but weren't there rumours, at one stage, of James Nesbitt being cast as Sikes? So long as one could dissociate him from his um, other television personas, I thought he'd be quite a good choice.

As for the Sam thing, there is something very fetching and coquettish about her. We haven't seen much of her performance yet, but she might be one to keep an eye on. She is awfully young though, I wonder whether youth will work for the contestants this time (like Joseph) or against them (Maria). I'm guessing the latter.

Looks like they're going all out for a totally star studded cast. I guess that will do no harm at all to Andrew's bank balance

I think JAMES nessbit would be a great choice for Sykes, would be a lot more like it in my eyes, however if someone like Sam was cast as Nancy, at 17, although both legal, it may seem a bit close to bordering peodophilia(dont think I spelt that right), however true to the story it may be, it may be slightly to uncomfortable to watch.

Sam is very attractive and the nice thing about it is, she is very natural and not at all up her own arse.

Interesting because in the first two series the acting was left largely untested and unvoted on. This time the claim is that acting is more important (though thats a bit odd as the first two shows were about leading roles) If we take his Lordship at his word they will have to make sure they get a good actress this time. It may be they have already done the selection of who can act /looks right refined the last twelve so they pass the test and will have to make sure the weaker actresses don't make it by giving them dire songs now they know who they are.