New Mamma Mia! talent show to feature Samantha Barks, Amber Riley, Jessie Ware and Alan Carr
Samantha Barks, Amber Riley, Jessie Ware and Alan Carr are to feature in Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream on ITV.
The new talent show on ITV1 and ITVX will follow the search for two up and coming musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in Mamma Mia! in the West End for its 25th anniversary year.
Radio and TV stalwart Zoe Ball will host the show while making up the judges will be comedian and TV personality Alan Carr, singer songwriter Jessie Ware, Olivier Award Winner Amber Riley and Samantha Barks, star of Frozen in London’s West End.
Creator and global producer of Mamma Mia! and co-executive producer of Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, Judy Craymer will also be on hand to offer her expertise to the judges who’ll be tasked with making tough decisions in their search to find the next West End superstars.
Samantha Barks said: “For sure they are going to go on a really hard journey, it’s going to be so much fun, but it’s going to be like the movie! We’re going to be in Greece, the sun will be shining, and I cannot wait for you guys to watch it. I just feel so honoured to get to be on the judging panel because I know what they’re going through, I’ve been there before and I can’t wait to guide them, challenge them, and be there for them.”
Amber Riley enthused: “I’m really excited to be a part of such an incredible project. Musical theatre has played such an integral role in my growth as a performer. I am all too happy to share what I’ve learned and to cheer on the world’s next biggest stars! Mamma Mia!, here we go!”
Alan Carr said: “Getting to judge on one of my favourite musicals in one of my favourite locations ever is literally my dream job. A whole lot of feta and a whole lot of ABBA – perfection!”
And Jessie Ware commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be a judge. I love Greece, if you know me you know how much I love Greece. I got married there, I sung a Mamma Mia invite to everybody when they came. So, for me, to be spending the summer in Greece, finding the new breakout stars, and hopefully helping shed some light on the industry and help them find their way, I just can’t wait. It’s going to be a summer to remember.”
Host Zoe Ball added: “Our contestants are going to go through quite the journey, believe me, but like the show and like the movie, there is going to be song, there is going to be dance and there’s going to be fun in the sun. And we cannot wait for you to come on that journey with us.”
Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will air on ITV1 and ITVX later this year with a start date to be announced.
