With Mamma Mia - the jukebox musical based on the songs of ABBA - celebrating 25 years in the West End next year, what better time to kick off a TV talent search to find two newcomers to play the roles of bride-to-be Sophie and her beau Sky. Well, ABBA fans are in luck as Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream launches on ITV1.
Hosted by Zoe Ball and filmed in glorious Greece, the ‘name of the game’ will be for 14 ‘super troupers’ to each show off their singing, dancing and acting skills in a bid to convince judges; comedian Alan Carr, Glee favourite Amber Riley, singer Jessie Ware and West End star Samantha Barks, to ‘take a chance on me’.
This show sorts the ‘dancing queens' from those who need an ‘SOS’, with the public having the final say on which two winners take it all. Here Alan, 47, reveals more…
How did you feel when you got the call to be a judge on Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream?
"Oh, well, I mean, this is really tragic but they asked me and I started crying! I love ABBA. I love Mamma Mia and I love Greece, so it was literally the perfect job. Honestly, I cried and cried and I couldn't believe my luck."
What sort of judge are you?
"I've only ever judged outfits on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, so I know there'll be people at home saying: 'Why’s he doing a musical theatre show?' I've never sung but I’ve been on stage with my stand-up more times than people have had hot dinners, so I know what it’s like to perform. And we all have opinions. So I guess I'm like the person watching at home. The other judges are technical but you need one person to go, 'Oh, I just like that, it’s filled me with joy’."
What was it like filming in Greece?
"The gorgeous location made lots of these performances so memorable. Sometimes the contestants would perform with a sunset behind them then, as it got dark, fairy lights would come on. So every performance had its own little bit of magic. Staying in the hotel, though, was a bit surreal. I’d often look out and see Zoe’s knickers drying on a sun lounger and Samantha walking along with a yoga mat. It was like a celebrity holiday camp!"
Each week, our hopefuls take part in singing, dancing and acting workshops. But how crucial is the chemistry between Sophie and Sky?
"Very. We’d have our favourites, who’d sing together beautifully, but then we’d be like, 'Oh no, they've got no chemistry’! There’s a responsibility on us to pick finalists that people are going to want to watch for another 25 years. The pressure was on."
Lastly, if you were to play a character in MAMMA MIA! who would it be?
"I’d be Pierce Brosnan [Sam Carmichael in the films]. Naturally. Or I could play a camp waiter? They need to make a decision on whether there’s going to be a third film - I'm not getting any younger!"
Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream starts on Sunday, October 22 at 6 pm on ITV1.
