Connie came across as being arrogant on the programme. She has seemed nicer in interviews, but her voice still annoys me. She's also very old-fashioned, and not in a good way - perfect for Maria in a sense. Her version of ALAHNM is twee and doesn't sound very nice.

Lee Mead seems to sing everything in exactly the same way. When he sang "Living on a prayer" he didn't sing it like a rock song at all, and it was very odd. He also missed notes during that song (supposedly due to the band). Instead of being criticized, he was praised for his ability to cope and ride the song out. I'm sorry, but he is just dull (which isn't really a disadvantage in Joseph).

I was nonplussed by them both, but saying that I've been into this series a lot more and watched the whole thing whereas I only caught snipets of the other 2 so I guess I might have formed more of an opinion on them both.
As well, with Maria and ADWD it was clear who was going to win I think whereas this series had been a lot more open and a bit more dramatic. They put us on a good show

You know what Kate? I agree with you?

I didn't watch the other 2 all the way through either, but I've seen some clips online. The thing that annoyed me was that Connie and Lee could do no wrong according to the judges (influencing the voters at home), while all of the girls on I'd Do Anything were criticized. I don't think either of them is as talented as people make out, and there is something very unlikeable about Connie.

I did'nt watch the one with Lee Mead so was not interested. With the Maria Show i was very pissed off that Connie won she was just another Julie Andrews wannabe to me, i do'nt know what it was but she just annoyed me espeacially when they showed her crying saying she did'nt want to go back to the call centre, i wish she had gone back. well thats all over now, funny Jessie did'nt annoy me when she cried. But Connie rrrrh

I wasn't very fond of either of them.
They seem like nice enough people, but when Connie performed she sometimes seemed a little insistant and manic.
But in saying that her vioce is very good, and she sings the sound of music song wonderfully.

OH MY!
Well we have had our disagreements but we have also agreed at times

I didn't take to Connie at all - she always seemed very full of herself. I went to see TSOM this year but went when Aoife was on (she was great, incidentally).

I thought Lee was fantastic - I love his voice and he comes across as extremely modest and very grounded. Saw him in Joseph and he was superb. He's also extremely easy on the eye

Didn't watch Maria but Connie's always come over as likeable and talented to me.

I think it's unfair to say Lee wasn't criticised - one performance was described as a bit rubbish by Zoe Tyler. Lee was incredibly talented and cleared every hurdle put in front of him.

Their performance together of All I Ask of You was beautiful.

Connie didn't "do it" for me. I have seen a few of her interviews though and she seems like a really lovely person. There's no getting away from the fact her voice is incredible but, like someone else said, a Julie Andrews carbon copy.

I became a Lee Mead fan after seeing him in Joseph. I've seen it a few times before but after seeing him, I was extremely impressed. Not too bad to look at either.

They were both my favourites to win - Connie right from the start, but especially after 'Shout!' and for me Lee's experience carried him through in the end although I had no real favourite for a while (and I can make up my own mind without being 'influenced by the judges').

OP having only recently joined this forum, you seem to have posted mainly negative comments (unless it concerns Rachel and Jessie). I'm not saying this because a lot of your negative comments are directed at contestants I like, but because this kind of meanness leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The judges undoubtedly do have an influence, even if they didn't influence you. Connie has talent, but her faults were overlooked at the time and Lee was told that every performance was flawless.

That's what was so special about him. He took a well known song and performed it in his own style


You obviously haven't seen him in the show then....

No, I haven't seen him in the show. If any of the Nancy contestants had sung every song in the same way, they would have been accused of missing the tone of the song. It was a rock song, and it should have been sung like a rock song and not a musical number.

Connie for me lacked charisma - her performances were all lacking in something that compels you to watch; all rather insipid and bland. I do think she has a nice voice, is competent, likable etc and the worthy winner, but she just failed to excite me in any way.

Lee was definitely the best candidate in Joseph (although that wasn't hard considering the opposition) - and I did like some of his performances. But I'm not a fan of his voice (it's too... hoarse?) and I do think he was overrated. I haven't seen him in the show though so who knows, he might be fantastic on stage that never really came across on screen. I see him as more versatile and commercial than Connie though.

I thought both were worthy winners for their respective parts but since then Connie hasn't really changed so, if she isn't Maria, I don't see her as versatile enough to be anything else. Perhaps Mary Poppins, but I'm not sure. She won because she WAS Maria but that may also be her downfall too. She is very much type cast. Nor did she have any star quality at all.

Lee does appear far more versatile and he was supposed to redefine songs - a very brave thing to do - hence his brilliant Paint it Black - a million times better than Jaggers IMO. I can imagine him in Les Mis as Marius or Che in Evita - to name but two parts. He had far more star quality although not as much as a few of this years girls.

Lee didn't really have that much opposition - certainly by the end as everyone left was too young and inexperienced. He for me was kept a bit under wraps - his final performances suggested why he ought to get the role but there were only one or two great weeks before that.

Connie was Julie and very solid. The familiarity obviously appealed to the audience and the solidity seemed to appeal to the judges (Barrowman seems to like people like himself who are solidly themselves) and their singing coaches (including Zoe) seem to prefer consistency to imagination or interpretation which is why there are so few great performances on any series. It might have been far more interesting to see one of the better actresses get the role and do something a bit different. Aoife managed to get there and does add her interpretation to it and Abi could probably have created a new interpretation completely. The problem is that all three series suggest that the audience at home on the sofa doesn't like anything that far from the known model.


The problem with all of the winners is that its not certain they would have won if other people hadn't gone out in odd evictions, been given killer songs (Bojangles , Summertime, Footloose anyone) and everyone had had similarly suitable/attractive songs at key times and less biased judging comments. Bizarrely the third series when when ALW at last wanted a non-standard winner he ended up in arerun of Maria where consistency and familiarity and a story triumphed over what his production team managed to work up in the people who could do anything outstanding.

I think the public are now wiser and realise what the panel actually do

Connie was the favourite from the beginning, average voice average stage presence.
I preferred Abi, thought she had better stage presence.

Lee, again when Lewis (David Beckham look alike) didnt come up to par then they switched too Lee. Lee has been an understudy for the same people judging him now. Made me wonder why two very experienced people in the business kept by passing him. I think Lee didnt get any songs which challenged his range, he got the good emotional ballads,, the guy losing the girl songs. He was given one rock song and thats the song Zoe said he did abit rubbish.

They then put him back to the ballads and love songs. The public wasnt wise enough to realise how it was being manipulated. I think Lee is a nice guy to works hard, but his voice is average. He has dark smoldering looks which I think he gets by on. Im sure he will have a career, just not sure how big a one.

Connie has now left HDYSAPLM, and she has ended up doing a TV program. Why? She is supposed to be MT. Do they not rate her?

all very strange.........

I saw Connie in TSOM and Lee in Joseph both were very good. Lee is the same in almost every TV appearance -tedious. However, he was excellent on the Alan Titchmarsh prog. I think it's because he sings songs from Joseph most of the time and he's still 'new' to his fame. I think he will develop as time goes by and he take on new projects. He's probably tired out.

DVO likes him and I don't think she'd go for a boring man.

Casper - Having seen Lee in other shows - Miss Saigon where he played Chris and Tommy, I can ay he is an excellent MT performer. Miss Saigon is wonderful and he played Chris (he was the understudy) the 2nd time I saw it and I wasn't disappointed with his performance.

Its not correct to say that he was given one rock song and the rest ballads and love songs. What about Mack the Knife, Devil in Disguise, Bad Day, Living on a Prayer, Alright Now, Daydream Believer, Paint it Black, New York New York?

I've no idea where this idea comes from that he was only given love songs and ballads when in actual fact he had Leave Right Now and I Don't Wanna Talk about it - Bad Day maybe at a push and that was down to interpretation rather than song choice.

As for the understudy question. Its been discussed on this forum before that 85% of people in the west end are in the chorus. Its a huge achievement to be given an understudy role and a big endorsement of talent.

I'm an unashamed Lee fan - i thought he was brilliant on the show, had an incredibly unique and powerful voice (listen to any of the group numbers and you can hear him above the others) and he was also nice, humble and genuine. My expectations were extremely high when i went to see the him in Joseph and he managed to impress me even more.

I don't think anyone before or since has come anywhere near him in terms of talent and charisma and he was a very worthy winner.

It's also not true that Lee was never criticized. He was, sharply, especially by Zoe who called him rubbish one week. Lewis was never that strong of a contender -- he was in the singoff three times I think, though he made it through to 3rd. Again, only his last few performances were really strong, I remember Kiss in particular. Keith was a good solo performer but he never seemed to bother in group performances.

BOBBLA!

Are you saving to see Lee again? I'm off to London next weekend and am seeing Hairspray and Les Mis again.

I'm waiting for Lee to leave Joseph to see what he does next. He needs a new challenge.

I'm hoping to go again in August ewoodie and i'll definitely go and see him whatever hes doing next. I'll probably see something else too while i'm there but i've no idea what.

I'd like to see Ben in Hairspray but tbh the show doesn't really appeal to me even with Ben and Michael in it - i thought the film was pants lol

I've seen Les Mis at least 20 times now so thats not on the cards either. I'm so glad you enjoyed it enough to go again though

Maybe Avenue Q with Daniel or Evita with Seamus if its still on.

Oh decisions decisions

Disliked Connie but went to see TSOM because it was my friends choice of show to go to. As I've posted before hated it and we both agreed to leave at the interval.

Didn't watch Maria but from clips Connie looked the most ready to play Maria. I know nothing about her but she does seem to get a bad press on the internet with lots of rumours about her divaish behaviour.

Lee was certainly the most ready for Joseph and I really don't think the panel wanted him as they kept pushing the younger boys through (like IDA really with the younger ones being saved) I think they only got behind him in the lattter stages. I have seen him in Joseph and he is fabulous as i am sure Jodie will be a fab Nancy!

Bobbla don't let the Hairspray movie put you off - the show is nothing like the film and if you love MT you will love Hairspray