No Mattter What had me in tears, and I've just watched it again and I'm crying. Jonny and Chester especially look absolutely gutted. I've got to say, good on Arthur, for the youngest boy in the competition he took it especially well. I noticed Jordan crying too, that just made me even worse! The whole thing was quite hearbreaking really.

I hadn't noticed any crying....I'm going to watch it again (with a box of tissues I think!)

Gwion is so sweet!

No, it certainly doesn't sound like a caring environment and that's exactly what I find very upsetting.
I feel like changing my username now... Because I love my job but this is not what I want to be associated with.

I read the DM article and I disagree with some of the comments posted on this thread.

First, I think it is right that the chaperones stayed in the room during the interview. I certainly wouldn't want a child of mine interviewed by a journalist looking for a story without either me or another responsible adult present! Also, I think that the chaperone was right to stop the boys naming names. No matter how this was done, it could have been played up by the press and caused conflict between the Olivers.

The only feedback I have heard, from a friend who knows one of the Olivers' family, is that they had been well looked after and have had a great time. They have had fantastic training with top coaches, experience of performing live on TV and made great friends.

It is not surprising that the ones not chosen were upset when they were told and during their final song. We're had tears aplenty from the Marias, Josephs and Nancies. I don't think it shows that the boys have not been properly cared for.

I'm sorry but that sounds like rubbish. Any source? Can you imagine what the critics would say if this was the case.

In the live shows a few weeks back it was mentioned that ONE of them will get to perform on opening night.

On the original application form I'm sure it said they were professional and qualified. I doubt the parents would 'give' their child to someone you mentioned for 12 plus weeks to look after.

Also have to be a maximum of 13 and a maximum of 5 feet tall

Yes, I do agree with you. I don't think the DM article necessarily implied that the boys weren't being looked after properly - I doubt the BBC would just have let any old person chaperone them. I also think it's appropriate that there was an adult in the room with them when they are being interviewed by the media.

I don't disagree with the chaperones being present during the interview. They have to be. Nor do I think it was wrong for one of them to remind Gareth not to name any names.
It's more of a "gut feeling" actually. Reading between the lines and knowing what I know from my own experience, it just left me feeling uncomfortable. No so much the DM article or the fact that the boys were clearly upset (ofcourse they were!), but especially the visual of what happened at the Avenue Q theatre. I don't know whether or not there was someone for these boys to fall back on back then, but it seems like there wasn't and there's just so many things wrong with that.
You are right though, neither one of us really knows what's been going on and how these kids were taken care of. To me it just seems like they had fun, food and shelter but, to stick to Oliver terms: where is love?

http://ukpress.google.com/article/AL...PR5qujMofreoxQ

Perhaps their parents were there later because it seems wrong if they were left to stay in the lobby.

Thank you for that! It makes me feel so much better to know their parents were there! I still stick to rest of my previous post though. (But I'm stubborn )

I really liked Harry - was made up when he got through! Gwion is very sweet too

They have had Billys who were 15 (i think one of the originals was 15 by the time the show opened?) when they started but then would have been in training for ages before that.

Any potential Michaels out of the Olivers? They all look like billys though to me!

All the Olivers are under 5' at least - they were all shorter than Sarah who was 4'11". TV seems to make them look taller but they must be quite tiny in reality!

Yes, but to audtion you need to be under 5 feet and under 13 - it is on the musicals website as they are auditioning now.

That was AMAZING!!! Well done boys!

I didn't like it very much.

BUT I loved the boys reactions, especially Harrys! That made me teary.

I did! But I just love this song, so maybe I'm biased...

EDIT: plus, I was already in tears again from the boys reactions, so maybe emotion clouded my judgement. I've taped it and I'm going to watch it again. Get back to you later!

For the first time, I was moved to tears during the Olivers performance of 'Where is Love'. All three of them were so lovely. Lawrence looked terrified but his voice is so pure that not even massive nerves can affect it. Gwion is amazingly self-assured... I don't think anyone could now doubt he was a great choice. And Harry may not be the strongest of the three vocally but he absolutely ticks the boxes for this 'new' type of plucky Oliver.

I really enjoyed 'food glorious food'. They looked comfortable and threw themselves into it. Maybe once the result had been revealed they were all able to relax and enjoy it more. (Or maybe we were projecting our own misery onto them all!) Chester, I noticed, gave a lovely animated, dramatic performance in contrast to his subduedness earlier.

I loved the how 'pure' it was. I think it was just because I love it when all the boys are there, I'm still getting over Chester not getting through. It was a beautiful performance, I think I just missed all of the other boys!

LOVED Harry's reaction. He's so watchable, and I agree 100% with Cameron that he exudes warmth & confidence. Laurence was sweet also... he was crying at the start so he obviously wasn't expecting it!

Thought "Where is Love" was simply beautiful. Gwion was the spitting image of an Oliver and Harry proved once and for all that he can definitely sing! Laurence shone too - he really does have brilliant vocal control and even when his tuning is wobbly, he somehow never makes me feel uneasy. (but was it wrong of me to have wondered all the way through the song how Chester or Alexander would have sung this? I don't think I'm ever going to get over it! Not taking anything away from those three boys though!)

Incidentally, I was quite irritated that the 5 boys who didn't make it through were non-existent in tonight's show - I was hoping that Cameron may make individualised comments on them. I guess they had to make time for the winners, though. And it was so weird to see Chester without a hat in the opening song - I was just so used to him as a potential Oliver.

Their reactions to getting told were so figgin' cute! I was in tears... again. Laurence was obviously not expecting it! He was in tears and shaking his head! Aww!

'Where is Love?' was beautiful

I wanted comments on them too. I think it would have been only fair, they've worked so hard for weeks. Also thought it was weird seeing all five Olivers who hadn't got through without their hats! Harry, Laurence and Gwion's reactions to getting through were so touching, Harry's especially.

Agree about Where is love? had me