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I'd Do Anything

I'd Do Anything

Would you do anything to appear in a West End musical? BBC1 reality TV programme "I'd Do Anything" is currently trying to find the stars for a new West End production of Oliver!.
As with previous talent searches for The Sound of Music and Joseph, Graham Norton is hosting Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC1 search for the cast for his latest production.
Here at Show and Stay® we're publishing the latest news as and when we hear it and we're glued to our screens every Saturday to catch each of the BBC1 episodes so you don't miss a thing!

Meet the Finalists...

Looking for information on those lucky few that are still in the competition? Want to know more about those who have been evicted? Then look no further, Show and Stay have done their research to bring you as much information about the I'd Do Anything finalists as we can. Take a look at our pages below for everything you need to know about your favourite Nancy and Oliver.

Meet the Nancys

Meet the Olivers

Weekly Poll

Will Andrew be swayed by the public or chose his favourite Nancy?

Last Week's Results

Is it the end for Rachel?

Yes - 76%

View all results

BBC1 I'd Do Anything

May 12th 2008

Ashley

Well, after Sarah's unexpected departure last week it seems that the Nancys have all been sharpening their proverbial claws to stay in the competition. OK, so there wasn't any real Apprentice-style bitchiness (at least not between the Nancys), but the songs they each chose certainly pass as fightin' talk.

Jessie kicked off the aggressive theme with a boisterous rendition of Christina Aguilera's Stronger. No where near last week's spectacular Judy Garland number, the judges criticised her song choice. John Barrowman began the battery by reminding everyone that this was not a talent competition but a casting competition. Jessie's rushed diction meant that swathes of the lyric were unclear and, if this was a piece of musical theatre, that simply could not happen.

Next we were backstage at a Celine Dionne show with Andrew and the Nancys. A treat for the girls and a masterclass on how to deliver a rousing ballad, the girls were ushered in to meet the star in her dressing room. Niamh seemed to be most impressed with getting to meet the French-Canadian warbler and it was she that was next to perform.

In a wee bit to camera, Niamh declared that she wanted the panel to see that she could be as mature and maternal as any of the older Nancys and she decided to do this by singing Phil Collins' hit True Colours. A really rather beautiful rendition, Niamh sung with tenderness and honesty but, as the judges said, it didn't really smack of maternal guidance. Her voice cracked at one point too but it was only a fairly minor hiccup. The performance she gave on Sunday however, after she was picked by the Olivers to perform Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with them, was very different. The interaction she had with the boys worked really well and she effortlessly exuded a motherly sort of warmth. The panel liked both performances but, alas, she still found herself in the sing off after the public vote.

Ashley was up next with Aretha's Say a Little Prayer. Only JB thought the performance was of any note, the others found her a little cheesy and uninteresting. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I didn't like her song until Denise said that she thought it was a little "cruise ship". That, I thought, was exactly what was wrong with it; the voice was fine but was completely lacking a sense of honesty or intent. Andrew Lloyd Webber was exceptionally cruel and said that, after hearing her sing the lyric "run for the bus dear", he thought that "that's exactly what you should take"

After the sing off Andrew Lloyd Webber apologised for being so harsh on Ashley the day before and said that he would like to work with her on something else and really try and bring the performances out of her. Niamh and Ashley performed "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" in the sing off and I have to say it was a fairly lacklustre performance by Niamh. Her tuning was fine but the integrity and connection with the lyric she usually commands was definitely not as clear as it has been before. Still, she simply had to stay over Ashley and the Lord duly saved her from elimination for the second time in three weeks.

Flitting back to Saturday's show, the Olivers were sent for an acting class with former Eastender Todd Carty, each one going over the famous Workhouse scene for the camera. Eleven year old Lawrence stood out to the judges and he was sent through to the semi final.

Sam, who I think has just been getting better and better, was next up to the plate and performed the Destiny's Child hit Survivor. Energetic and impassioned, Sam was very strong on Saturday. The judges loved it and Denise felt the need to apologise for doubting her at the beginning of the audition process. "I thought you were a very young girl" said Denise, "but now I see you as a leading lady".

Jodie was up next with an altogether more robust approach to the role. After confidently and competently belting out the Alicia Keys song If I Aint Got You. The Judges were impressed but Webber questioned whether she could cope with some more intense choreography. The feisty Jodie then declared "Oh, I can move like you don't know what!" to a huge cheer from the studio audience.

Rachel was up next and, after being saved from the sing off last week by Andrew, was fighting for her place. A very fine rendition of Carole King's "You Got a Friend" was not enough to convince Barry who thought that he now saw here as a great understudy but not a leading lady.

To add to the tension, Graham then announced that the six Nancys would be split into two groups, one would comprise of the young hopefuls (Niamh, Jessie and Sam) and the other of the more seasoned performers (Rachel, Ashley and Jodie). The youngsters were up first with a hi octane rendition of Aguilera's Candyman. With a few fairly saucy lyrics and some suggestive moves their rendition was fun if a little cheeky. The older crowd managed a calmer and more resilient version of Man, I feel Like a Woman. A much easier song to sing, Rachel, Ashley and Jodie pulled off a tongue-in-cheeck cabaret act complete with high heels and walking canes. Andrew said he liked both groups and said they were great fun but refused to say which he preferred.

All in all the performances were not quite as strong as they were last week and it was clear nerves have started settling in with a few of the hopefuls. Still, a great show and, with only five Nancys left in the competition, next week's I'd Do Anything is shaping up to be a real corker.

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