With viewing figures are down on previous years, we have to ask: have the Lloyd Webber shows started to lose their sparkle a bit? Rumour has it the BBC are desperate to keep Graham Norton and are looking for a way to make sure he doesn't get tempted away by the siren call of glamorous, sophisticated ITV. The question is... are these shows enough?
LES MISÉRABLES, the world's longest running musical, (currently playing in its 23rd year at the Queen's Theatre) has some cast changes coming up. From the 23rd of June, the part of a grown-up 'Eponine' will be taken by Nancy Sullivan (not that one!, that one), who was knocked out before reaching the final 12 on I'd Do Anything. Leanne Dobinson will play 'Cosette'. Leanne's been in Les Mis already in a different part, and was famously one of 10 hopefuls in How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria.
The elusive Cameron Macintosh finally speaks:
Funny lady and Peep Show star Olivia, or Rachel, popular irish Nancy? Which is the best similar-faced lady? Come on, Rachel fans, if you exist... Olivia's nice. I could've said she looked like a Doctor Who monster or something couldn't I? But no, I did the decent thing and compared her to someone who was jilted by David Mitchell on a grimy Channel 4 comedy show.
Ah, now this is just ace. The funny little boot-slapping dance, the little boys having the best time ever, her facial expressions. And the weird thing is, Niamh was, once again, in the sing-off last night... of course Ashley got the boot - but why WHY don't you like young Niamh? Look - she's lovely! Someone please explain. Niamh Niamh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you.
Has the Isle of Man really changed their name to "Isle of Sam" in honour of Sam Barks? And aren't they overdue another invasion, anyway? Thinking about it, she's got a whole island of nationalistic manxies on her side - there's a good chance that could help her win. Join the debate here (and ask yourself, yes, it's publicity for the IoM... but is it really good publicity?)
As Big Brother fever sweeps the nation (oh is it that time again already? Sorry, I was asleep, etc) look what I found for you! It's Jonty! Doing a virtual museum tour! Come on, click on it. Call yourself a BB fan? WATCH IT.
Morbid reading, but oddly fascinating: The Mirror brings us a list of reality show deaths...
Well, kind of. The news appears in what we shall call, for superstition's sake, "The Scottish Paper", so one has to allow for bias. "Ashley would work very well for the male viewers," said Denise. "I love her hair and she's really good at being real when she's performing. I hope she holds on to that." I don't know about DVO. I've just never found her to have that "star quality", so struggle to trust her judgment. What do you think? Is Ashley your Nancy?
We're half-way through, and it's time to start backing someone. But who's your stand-out favourite? You can vote for more than one, I guess, but don't vote for all of them and ruin the system. Tsk, you kids.
She was in the sing-off with Rachel (I know! I thought you liked her?!) - and she lost. But let's have one last, lingering look at that Mister Whippy kiss-curl thing she's sporting there, on Saturday's show. An extraordinary feet of engineering, by anyone's standards.
If I ever have a boy, I'm going to make him dress up like an Oliver. All the time.
Can you believe this? Francesca, who was booted off the show just over a week ago, has said in an interview that the show producers wouldn't let the girls wear anything too revealing. I mean, sure, good. That's right an appropriate for a teatime family show. What I can't believe is that the restraints are already being employed. I've watched this show and guess what? I've seen all their bangers. In fact, when Keisha was eliminated I was worried her corset might not make it through the top notes...
Well, Keisha's finally out. But was it the right choice, this time? Amazingly Ashley lived to see another day, because NIAMH WAS IN THE SING-OFF. Yeah, do that face. I couldn't believe it either. But did the Lord make the right choice? Watch the sing-off again over the jump (it'll break your heart) then watch the Andrew's fury. Then vote. Don't forget that part.
Don't get me wrong, I'm the world's biggest Graham Norton fan. I think he's excellent and I loved it when, at the Baftas, he told DS that life would get its revenge on Piers Morgan, because "tomorrow he'll wake up and he'll still be Piers Morgan". But lately Graham has started to remind me slightly of someone. Just a bit, you know. Not a lot.
Is it wrong that I can't stop seeing Oliver hopeful Jonny as a young Nigel Havers, cropped-out blonde woman notwithstanding? Does this make me a bad person? You'd think I'd be beyond questions of conscience by now, after comparing other Olivers to, respectively, Anne Widdecombe and Bill Oddie. Put that way, I think Jonny got off lightly. Don't know about you, but I can't wait to find out who I'm going to decide all the others look like.
