Any Dream Will Do, the BBC's search for a new Joseph has continued to top ITV's hunt for a new Danny and Sandy,Grease Is The Word, in the battle for Saturday night audience figures.
Following in the award winning footsteps of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, the BBC's talent search sees hopefuls audition in front of a panel of judges before facing elimination via public vote. The winner will go on to star in the new Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In its first week the show attracted 6.7 million viewers.
Any Dream Will Do hit television screens on March 31st, a week ahead of Grease Is The Word which screened on April 7th in a slightly earlier time slot. The ITV show uses the same formula in its search for a new Danny and Sandy for an upcoming West End production of Grease. Produced by Simon Cowell and theatre impresario David Ian, Grease Is The Word is hoping to repeat the success of the U.S version of the show - You're The One That I Want.
As the two shows went head to head for ratings on April 7th, the BBC's Any Dream Will Do came out on top with 5.9 million viewers (a 29.8% audience share) to the 4 million that tuned in to ITV for Grease Is The Word. Entering it's second week, the ITV talent search picked up 300,000 additional viewers though even this was unable to beat the BBC's Technicolor Dream - Any Dream Will Do attracted a further 200,000 viewers to bring its Saturday 14th April figures to 6.1 million.
Saturday's Any Dream Will Do was the first live show of the series. The 12 finalists, having made it through Joseph school, finally got to perform in front of the judges to secure their place on next weeks show. With more entertainment expected on both shows, it's going to be hard to decide which to watch live and which to video for later. For all the latest updates and theatre news, make it easy going - make it Holiday Extras.
Published by:
Tony Hill