“My sole aim is to find the best Danny and Sandy we possibly can for a West End show that I’ve got millions of pounds invested in.”

Acutely aware that his reputation is on the line, David Ian – ‘The most powerful man in British theatre’ * The Stage – is characteristically cool and calm about his search to find the new sandy and Danny. With an absolute passion for the musical Grease, he is determined to find two leads that have a magical quality.

What are you looking for in your ideal Sandy and Danny?
“They need to be able to sing dance and act. They need to be attractive; and I mean that in a general sense of the word. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but these two people are acknowledged by their peers to be very attractive, desirable human beings.

“On top of that I always say that Danny works if he’s got bucket loads of charm; he can’t exist without charm. Think about John Travolta in that movie and what attracted everybody to him was his charm and humour. And Sandy needs vulnerability and sweetness. You fancy her like mad but you also what to protect her.”

Which character did you most identify with when you were a teenager?
“Any man worth their salt wants to be Danny Zuko, and I was no different.”

What does Grease mean to you?
“The movie came out in 1979 when I was 17 and it was everything that I wanted to be. I wanted to be driving fast cars, chasing girls and going to discos, so it hit the spot for me.

“My sole aim is to find the best Danny and Sandy we possibly can for a West End show that I’ve got millions of pounds invested in.”

What’s your first Grease memory?
“My first Grease memory is going to see that movie, and like a lot of people, being wowed by John Travolta. I think the other thing was Olivia in lycra. It’s still in my mind as a middle aged man now! In fact, it’s more in my mind now, as a middle aged man!”

Sandy or Rizzo – who did you prefer?
“It was Sandy. I’m just a sucker for a sweet girl with big blue eyes that needs a cuddle.”

What’s your favourite scene and song from the movie?
“I think it’s the Drive-In scene. We’ve all been in the situation where you want to be the man…you want to put your arm round her…you want to lean across and kiss her, but you’re petrified of rejection. That always strikes a cord with me and it’s that mixture of vulnerability and high comedy.”

In your high school yearbook, what would it read?
“It would have said ‘Most likely to follow his dream and end up in the theatre’. I wanted to be an actor in the theatre as a teenager. As soon as I saw Michael Crawford in a show called Billy on my 13th birthday, I went to school and asked to be in the school play. The good news was there was a part for me; the bad news was it was Widow Twanky.”

What do you think of your fellow judges?
“Brian Friedman is a phenomenal choreographer and, other than the strange delusional moments, he truly knows what he is talking about. Sinitta is much more focused on what she’s wearing than what she’s thinking! And David Gest is stark, raving mad! I hope David gets his sanity goggles.”

What kind of judge are you?
“I like to think that I’m constructively critical. I’m not interested in being nasty just for the sake of it, but I’ve also got no interest in disguising the truth. I want to cast the best.”

What’s your advice for contestants?
“Make sure that you completely prepare for the audition. You will be nervous and the best way to handle nerves is to be 100% prepared so when the nerves kick in, you can almost do it on autopilot.

“If you get to sing a song, get to the best bit quickly. If you’ve got to dance, get to the best bit quickly. We’re seeing thousands of people and we need to be impressed, fast.”

What should a contestant never do in an audition?
“Don’t come in and keep talking and talking. And never, ever, ever make an excuse, like ‘I’m sorry I’ve got this terrible cold I can’t sing’. Even if it’s true, we invariably don’t believe it and the adage is ‘The show must go on’; so just get on with it!”

What are your best and worst audition scenarios?
“The worst scenario is when people are really delusional. When they stand there and try and convince me that they are right when I’m looking at a 58-year-old lady who can’t walk, let alone sing. I think that’s one of the worst.

“A good scenario is the same each time. It’s when somebody walks in and delivers the three things you need: they can sing, dance and act. They look like a dream and absolutely carve the role as their own. When that happens it’s the most magical thing you’ll find.”

What are your top five tips for making it as Sandy or Danny?
“For either part, be completely confident when you come in for your audition. Thoroughly prepare what you’re going to sing. Don’t talk and talk and talk and talk at us. Do what you’re going to do, sit and wait and listen for instructions.

“Make sure you look your absolute best on the day and have a positive attitude. It’s remarkably refreshing when someone comes in and says ‘I’m ready to sing. Let’s go!”