This week on ‘Grease: The School Musical’ Ray Quinn pops in to advise the potential stars of the show.

With Wallasey School chosen, Duncan James heads up to The Wirral to reveal the show that pupils will be performing. And the news goes down well. As the current West End cast, including Ray Quinn, descend on the assembly hall, there are plenty of chills multiplying across Merseyside.

Have a gander at the clips below which include Ray Quinn’s acting tips, his take on what it’s like to star in a popular West End show and Duncan James tips on auditioning.

Watch the show on Sunday 13 September 19.00 Sky1

The series that transforms ordinary secondary school pupils into West End stars continues. The competition hots up as Duncan James presents a sing-off between the three finalist schools. Students from Birmingham, Southend-on-Sea and Wallasey on The Wirral must overcome their nerves and display their singing and dancing abilities, impressing a judging panel made up of vocal coach Zoe Tyler, choreographer Stacey Haynes and Duncan himself.

Following impressive renditions of Queen’s I Want To Break Free, Elton John’s Can You Feel The Love Tonight? and Rhythm Of Life from Sweet Charity, the kids must descend on the dance floor and pull out all the stops with some hip-shaking moves. While the Essex and Birmingham schools perform step-perfect street dances, the Merseysiders opt for a more traditional rock and roll routine.

A child from each school must then state their case about why they should be chosen for West End fame. With emotions riding high, it’s up to Duncan to announce which one will perform the world premiere of Grease: The School Musical.

Watch an interview with presenter, Duncan James below.

Grease next airs on Sky One this Sunday at 7PM

Sky1’s all-singing, all-dancing School Musical series is back! Following on from the success of last year’s HAIRSPRAY: THE SCHOOL MUSICAL, the series is set to return to Sky1 and Sky1 HD with new host Duncan James taking on the challenge of staging hit West End musical Grease. Check out the interview with Duncan below and watch out for spoilers!

Watch Grease The School Musical on Sunday 30th August at 7pm on Sky One.

Sky1’s all-singing, all-dancing School Musical series is back! Following on from the success of last year’s Hairspray the school musical, the series is set to return to Sky1 and Sky1 HD with new host Duncan James taking on the challenge of staging hit West End musical Grease. Will this year’s school be able to pull off the production of their lives?

Last year’s show saw ordinary secondary school pupils spend their summer holidays working with some of the best names in musical theatre to become Hairspray’s Nicest Kids In Town at London’s Apollo Theatre. Now, another set of students will be given the chance to tread the boards as they perform their version of the smash hit musical Grease.

Over 500 schools applied to take part and the series opens with presenter Duncan James, choreographer Stacey Haynes and vocal coach Zoe Tyler whittling down six short-listed schools to just three. Travelling the country, the judges visit Southend-on-Sea, Worcestershire, Birmingham, The Wirral, Newport and Leeds, to discover the talents hidden in the classrooms. Some of the singers and dancers blow them away, while others leave them stunned with disbelief.
Duncan commented: “I’m really excited to be involved in the show as I’ve always loved musicals. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the kids, as well as a massive challenge. I’ll be pulling out all the stops to make sure they succeed!”

Having seen the potential, the School Musical team must choose three to perform in a sing-off for the chance to win their right to perform in London’s West End. With a decision made, Duncan, Stacey and Zoe must both make and break hearts as they reveal who the chosen schools are. The three schools must now show they’re hopelessly devoted to winning the opportunity of a lifetime and work as hard as they can in preparation for the sing-off.

The winning school will have their work cut out as they spend their summer holidays putting together a West End worthy show which will eventually be performed on stage at the Novello Theatre in Aldwych. Along the way they’ll receive masterclass tuition from a range of famous faces including Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams, who is currently starring in Chicago in the West End, former Strictly Come Dancing judge and choreographer of Grease the musical in the UK, Arlene Phillips and the West End’s current Danny Zuko, Ray Quinn.

Catch GREASE: THE SCHOOL MUSICAL only on Sky1 and Sky1 HD from August 30 at 7pm.

Former Blue singer, Duncan James gave a spectacular show of his ice skating skills this week at a party for Amarula sponsorship at Canary Wharf.

Duncan wowed audiences last year on ITV’s Danicng On Ice and at the party this week he did some ice skating with his partner and then brought some members of the audience on the ice rink and skated with them.

I wish I had been there, the chance to get up close and personal with hunky Dunky would have been too good to miss!

Ex Blue singer, Duncan James has spoken today of the long running rift between him and Big Brother housemate Ziggy.

The pair were in a boyband together called V5, and Duncan even lived in Ziggy’s family home for a period. However the friendship turned sour when Duncan left the band to join the massively successful Blue.

Duncan told The Sun newspaper:

“We were really close. But when I got to be in Blue, he got p****d off. He was jealous that I went on to Blue and left V5 behind. We didn’t talk for years later. But V5 was a disaster. We were going nowhere and everything was falling apart. It was a mess.

“He was jealous that I went on to a band who had so much success.”

Thankfully the pair recently made up and Duncan is now backing his old mate to win.

Duncan said:

“We had a chat and made up. It was nice to see him. A long time has passed since all that stuff — we’ve grown up and moved on with our lives now.”

He added: “If Big Brother is what he wants to do then good on him.

“I’ve always thought it could be dangerous for your career.

“But he’s a cool young guy I’m sure he’ll do really well.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get tickets for the Dancing On Ice Live Tour. I would have loved to go as I was an addict of the show and the thought of seeing Duncan James glide across the ice LIVE is almost too much to bear.

However, reports and reviews of the show have been great, I have yet to hear of a disappointed fan. Have a look here for a great review, The Daily Mail’s Claire Bates particularly loved Kyran’s body popping and Jason’s ever scathing remarks. Sounds like a great night out!

Kyran Bracken, Duncan James and Clare Buckfield are all skated up and ready to go for tomorrow nights Dancing On Ice Final.

Current favourite to win, rugby star, Kyran Bracken said: “There is pressure anyway whether we are favourites or not favourites.”
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“We’re just going to skate as well as we can and let the rest take care of itself,” he said.

Fellow finalist Duncan James said that his two-year-old daughter is his biggest fan. “She’s so loyal,” he said.

Meanwhile Clare Buckfield said: “To reach the final was a dream come true and to win would be fantastic.”

Duncan James has sustaibned a broken rib after falling during a routine for Saturday nights show.

But in true Duncan style he is determined not to let his injury get in the way of winning the contest.

Duncan says, “It’s really painful and I’m finding it hard to breathe. Before I can even think about training I’m going to see the physio for treatment.

“I’m upset because I’m so excited about getting through to the final and I don’t want it to stop me doing lifts. Hopefully it’ll be better this week.”

Duncan James has revealed that he wants to give up his music career in order to spend more time with his daughter.

Duncan said: “I never wanted to do a solo album, which is why I was the last one in Blue to do it.

“But I had to honour my contract with EMI and I’d signed for another couple of albums.

“I haven’t been happy in the music industry since Blue ended and never liked it when we had to go around Europe promoting, even in the band.

“Now I’ve got a young daughter I want to spend time with her, not sitting in a room in Germany being asked the same questions by different people all day.”