BBC search to find Oliver! boys

[Abigail]

A new TV talent search to find the next stars of the musical Oliver! will begin in the new year, the BBC has announced.

I'd Do Anything will be looking to find an actress for the role of Nancy and three young actors who will take turns as Oliver in the Lionel Bart musical.

Graham Norton will again host the show after leading previous searches for the stars of Joseph and The Sound of Music.

Auditions will begin in early 2008 and the programme will be broadcast on BBC One later in the year.

Norton will be joined by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the programme along with fellow impresario Cameron Mackintosh.

"We're really pleased to be building on the success of Any Dream Will Do with a new search for West End stars next year," Elaine Bedell, the BBC's controller of entertainment commissioning said.

Mark Lester (right) played Oliver in the 1968 film version

"Oliver! is a much-loved British musical so we're sure the show will unite families and melt hearts across the UK as we watch some of Britain's best new talent take centre stage."

Based on the Charles Dickens book, Oliver! was made into a film in 1968, starring Mark Lester in the lead role.

Earlier this year, Lee Mead won the TV search to become the lead in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 2006, former call centre worker Connie Fisher won How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? to take the lead in Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.

[CrazyLea]

Sounds good. I love the Oliver musical (the one with Jack Wild in it).

[LostVoodoo]

same here, the songs are all cracking! and what with the BBC's great version of Oliver that's on at the mo I think this will drum up quite a bit of interest. lol, i'm moving to london early next year, maybe i'll go and audition, d'you think they'll want a Nancy with a Lancashire accent? :lol:

[Katy]

i think this could be good, i think as it is different characters the style doesnt lose its appeal with the different shows they do. It could be seen as a complete copy of the Joseph and Maria, but like i say you are looking ro comepletly different actors and actresses as the roles are so different. I love Oliver.

[Abbie]

This will be really good, but odd at the same time cos its compelety different to finding once actor/actress and harder on the younger kids

[Chloe O'brien]

The danger of this is that you may have overbearing parents pushing their children into auditioning. As much as I enjoyed watching Maria and Joseph I don't think expecting young people to sing live week after week is a good idea.

[Abbie]

I know thats what Im worried about, its going to be really tough

[Abigail]

I agree. Then there's the added problem of education and moving to London with their parents who may have to leave their jobs.
I wouldn't want my child to audition for it.

[StarsOfCCTV]

The application packs for Oliver and Nancy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/oliver.pdf (too young I think)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/nancy.pdf

[Katy]

They are looking for three olivers i think and one Nancy, i mean far enough it wil be hard but those young Billy Eliotts are coping but i suppose they are actual actors.

[Abigail]

From age 9 for Oliver :eek: Even though it is rotated with three boys I wouldn't want my nine year old on stage in the west end.

The lad orginally cast for Billy Elliot is from Hull. His accent is really stong when he is singing. He came back from London in September I think to do his GCSEs then he's returning to the production after he has finished them.

[Abbie]

Dam, im one year too young for Nancy, eventhough I cant sing :lol:

And in Billy Elliot the musical I think the accent is good but its sounds like a posh geordie in parts