Andrew Lloyd Webber has admitted to being in awe of Graham Norton and believes he is a great presenter for BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.

“I’m just in awe of Graham. His talent is boundless,” Andrew told The Sun. “He does the whole show with an earpiece in and has to concentrate on what he’s saying while someone is firing instructions at him from off-stage. I couldn’t do that!”

He added: “I absolutely love doing the show. I always forget the cameras are there and get caught up in the moment. The show is constructed like a musical in itself. Keeping the audience entertained from start to finish is a challenge and we have to carry their concentration through from A to B.”

The public decided live on BBC One this week in Any Dream Will Do that Daniel Boys will not be Joseph.

After some excellent performances last week, the six remaining Josephs had to prove to the British public that it wasn’t a one-off and they really do have the power, range and charisma to land one of the best loved and most prized roles in the West End.

Once they had performed their songs and received feedback from Andrew Lloyd Webber and the expert panel of Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman, Bill Kenwright and Zoe Tyler, the Josephs faced the agony of the public vote. Read more & comment »

There are now 10 finalists left as legendary composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his panel continue their quest to find a new Joseph. In the third live show, the remaining hopefuls take to the stage to prove that they have the drive, determination and sheer, unadulterated talent to land one of the best-loved roles in musical theatre.

In the presence of Lloyd Webber and his esteemed panel of experts – Broadway and West End leading lady Denise van Outen, celebrated theatre producer Bill Kenwright, Torchwood star John Barrowman and outspoken vocal coach Zoe Tyler – the West End wannabes battle it out to prove that they have the charisma and star quality worthy of the Technicolor™ Dreamcoat.

Graham Norton hosts as the Josephs give it everything they’ve got to win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to star in the West End. Once the panel have given their expert opinion, viewers are able to vote for their favourite. Whose dreams will be shattered? And who will still have the chance to be the public’s Joseph?

Later this evening at 9.45pm on BBC One, viewers can find out which Joseph has been voted off by the public, and which Josephs survive to perform in next week’s live show.

Saturday 28 April
7.30-8.35pm BBC ONE
9.45-10.10pm BBC ONE

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s recent smash hit TV show, ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ has helped Sir Andrew shoot up the Sunday Times Rich List, replacing Paul McCartney in the number two spot.

According to Philip Beresford, who compiled the Sunday Times Rich List.

He said: “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? has not harmed Andrew Lloyd Webber. The reality TV shows have clearly helped.

“The exposure means that the shows, when they open, get free PR, translating it, dare I say it, into bums on seats.

“The Sound of Music is on at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre and it is his production so it’s a double hit.”

He added: “Without the shows, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s wealth would have gone up a little but he would not have replaced Sir Paul McCartney in the list.”

Musical genius, Andrew lloyd Webber, has told the Sunday Mirror today that the winner of the BBC hit TV show, ‘Any Dream Will Do’ will do his debut performance at the Diana Memorial Concert this summer.

The show at Wembley Stadium, will have an audience of 90,000 as well as millions of television viewers at home.

Andrew lloyd Webber tells the Sunday Mirror, “The show’s highlight will be the very first public performance by our programme winner.

“It will be nerve-racking for whoever wins - but what a fantastic opportunity it will be too!”

Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his panel have whittled down thousands of hopefuls to just 11 finalists in their nationwide search to find a new Joseph.

In tonight’s live show, the remaining hopefuls take to the stage to prove that they have the drive, determination and sheer unadulterated talent to land one of the best-loved roles in musical theatre.

In the presence of Andrew Lloyd Webber and his esteemed panel of experts – Broadway and West End leading lady Denise Van Outen, celebrated theatre producer Bill Kenwright, Torchwood star John Barrowman and outspoken vocal coach Zoe Tyler – the West End wannabes battle it out to prove that they have the charisma and star quality worthy of the Technicolor™ Dreamcoat.

Graham Norton hosts as the Josephs give it everything they have for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to star on the West End stage. Once the panel have given their expert opinion, viewers are able to vote for their favourite. Whose dreams will be shattered? And who will still have the chance to be the public’s Joseph?

Later this evening, at 9.55pm, viewers can find out which Joseph has been voted off by the public – and which Josephs have survived to perform in next week’s live show.

Saturday 21 April
7.40-8.45pm BBC ONE
9.55-10.20pm BBC ONE

Having successfully solved a problem like Maria, legendary composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his panel have whittled down thousands of hopefuls to just 12 finalists in their nationwide search to find a new Joseph. Now the hard work really begins as the finalists take to the stage in the first of eight live shows to prove that they have what it takes to land one of the best-loved roles in musical theatre. Read more & comment »

Andrew Lloyd Webber is looking for a few good Elvises to play the role of Pharoah in his upcoming London revival of Joseph and The Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat.

The musical legend and his fellow producers feel the an Elvis Presley impersonator will add freshness to the role.

In a posting on the upcoming production’s website, producers insist the impersonators “must be able to sing and dance in the Elvis style”.

Auditions will be held tomorrow TODAY at London’s Adelphi Theatre.

Previews of the show will begin on 6 July (07) and the musical will open at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 July (07).

The winner of new UK reality talent show ANY DREAM WILL DO will land the lead role as JOSEPH in the production.

The Exmouth Journal reports:

A LITTLEHAM teenager has become one of thousands of hopefuls auditioned to become the next Andrew Lloyd Webber West End star.

Exeter College student Alistair, who played the lead role of Marius in the West End’s 20th anniversary performance of Les Miserables, said: “I read about the show in the paper and saw the BBC was launching a search for Joseph so I went on the internet and found out the nearest auditions were in Cardiff. The experience is going to be great.”

After last year’s success of Solving a Problem like Maria, which catapulted telesales girl Connie Fisher to stardom in the Sound of Music, Andrew Llloyd Webber said he was again looking for raw talent to turn into a superstar.

“I’m looking for someone with star quality, real charisma, to hold that show in what is a really complex character,” he said.

“There hasn’t been a male rock superstar cast in a role for some time and that’s what I’m looking for - somebody like Justin Timberlake.

“The character of Joseph is very difficult to cast.

“He has to be nauseatingly gorgeous so you understand why the brothers throw him into the pit, and we have to be convinced of the journey he goes on and the value of forgiveness. It’s a tough call.

“The contest will be very open. I want as diverse a mix on stage as possible. Because so many people have sung Joseph at school, everybody will have an opinion on who they think makes a great Joseph, which makes the competition, very exciting.”

l Any Dream Will Do, hosted by Graham Norton, on BBC1, begins on Saturday (March 31) at 7.45pm.

Thousands of hopefuls have auditioned up and down the country and the judges now have the arduous task of whittling down the best in a series of call backs, followed by Joseph School and a final live performance to find a new Joseph.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is looking for a completely raw talent that he can turn into a superstar. “There have been some great Josephs,” says Andrew, “but, unlike Maria, there hasn’t been an ‘iconic’ Joseph.

“The audience have their favourites but I’m looking for someone with star quality, real charisma, to hold that show in what is a really complex character.”

Andrew continues: “There hasn’t been a male rock superstar cast in a role for some time and that’s what I’m looking for ” somebody like Justin Timberlake.”

And just a few months ago, at the regional interviews, they didn’t disappoint when thousands of talented boys auditioned in Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and London. Read more & comment »

The final test for the Any Dream Will Do auditionees is one that will stretch the boys to their limit as Andrew invites them to his castle in Ireland to perform for his friends, family and local people.

The auditions, London call backs, Joseph School and live performance will play out on the first two shows of Any Dream Will Do.

Only 12 boys will come through the audition process still clinging to their hopes of wearing the Dreamcoat. Then it is up to the BBC One audience, over eight live shows, to decide which young boy will become a superstar and take to the stage – fulfilling their wildest dreams and changing their lives for ever.

For more information on the auditions, callbacks and Joseph School, click here.

The final 50 boys, who have passed the audition and callback stage will enter Joseph School, where a team of the best coaches in the business teach them vocals, acting and choreography.

With every boy getting the very best in training, there’s some unexpected blossoming of talent, but viewers also see those who can’t hack the pace and, as the drama unfolds, more dreams are made and broken.

The intense Joseph School workshops also include celebrity mentors such as Jason Donovan popping in to lend their support and advice on what it takes to make it as a Joseph. In addition, the panel give the boys nightly progress reports and dreaded overnight homework tasks.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is also on hand to drop a few bombshells as he realises that turning a completely untrained voice into one that can handle eight shows a week is again going to be harder than he thought. Has he cast his net too wide? Can a builder really be the next Joseph?

“The character of Joseph is very difficult to cast,” says Andrew. “He has to be nauseatingly gorgeous so you understand why the brothers throw him in the pit and we have to be convinced of the journey he goes on and the value of forgiveness. It’s a tough call.”

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is sending winner of BBC’s ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’, to a top doctor for a crucial throat operation.

Connie Fisher sustained damage to her throat after performing Her role of Maria in The Sound Of Music with a heavy cold.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has been sepaking about his new reality talent search, ‘Any Dream Will Do’, and believes altering the currently narrow ethnic scope of the play “would be fabulous”.

He says, “It’s got to be multicultural in every way. I do think - particularly with a rock musical - it would be thrilling if we found a fabulous, gorgeous black Joseph. It would be fabulous.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed on his official blog that his newest BBC reality show, ‘Any Dream Will Do’ has attracted more than 2000 London appliactions and more than 800 Cardiff applicants.

He stated:

Over 800 people have asked to audition for ‘Any Dream Will Do’ in Cardiff alone and nearly 2000 in London. That’s three times as many as for ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ so the next series looks set to be very exciting. I can also reveal that one of the programmes will be filmed at my house in Ireland.

I bet his house is more grand than Louis Walshs’. I can’t wait for this show to start!