Mamma Mia: I Have A Dream viewers are DIVIDED over this judge's approach

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Mamma Mia: I Have A Dream kicked off tonight

Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream: Zachkiel, Leah, Tobias, Darcy, Callum, Maddy, Stephanie, Stevie, Esme, Desmond, Owen, Marcellus, Craig, and Maisie.
(Image credit: Thames/ITV Plc)

It was a great night for ABBA fans tonight, as Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream kicked off tonight at 6 pm on ITV1.

Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream is hosted by Zoe Ball and filmed in Greece, with 14 contestants showing off their dancing and acting skills in a bid to convince judges that they're the right fit for the key roles of Sophie and Sky in the show. 

The judges on the show are comedian Alan Carr, Glee star Amber Riley, singer Jessie Ware and West End star Samantha Barks, but there's one judge who has divided viewers with his approach to the role. 

'I like Alan Carr as a presenter...but I really don't get the decision to make him a judge on this show. You'd think that considering he's not a musical theatre star, he'd be bringing the comedy,' wrote one viewer.

'But he seems to be taking it seriously rather than being 'the fun.'

Other fans praised the choice on the show, saying, 'Samantha Barks, Jessie Ware and Amber Riley are both musical legends in their own right but I tell you what Alan Carr is making this show so amusing! 

'Also here for Samantha’s outfits.'

While another wrote more positively, 'alan carr is such a treasure.'

But the debate rumbled on, with another fan writing, 'Ok, so I get Amber Riley - yes, Jessie Ware - yes, Samantha Barks - yes...but Alan Carr?? I don't get it? 

'I love Alan as a comedian but he has nothing to bring to the judging panel? Very bizarre choice.'

To which another fan replied, defending the judge, 'I suppose Alan has performed stand-up to an audience so maybe that is why he was chosen for judging. 

'Plus he loves this type of stuff, he said it himself. Also he was in that spoof of the movies for Comic Relief.'

Alan Carr previously talked to What's On TV about what it meant to be on the show. He told us, '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.'

Mamma Mia: I Have a Dream continues on Sunday, October 29 at 6 pm on ITV1.

Lauren Hughes
Freelance writer

Lauren is the former Deputy Digital Editor at woman&home and became a journalist mainly because she enjoys being nosy. With a background in features journalism, Lauren worked on the woman&home brand for four years before going freelance. Before woman&home Lauren worked across a variety of women's lifestyle titles, including GoodTo, Woman's Own, and Woman magazine. After starting out working for a local paper in Yorkshire, her journalism career took her to Bristol where she hunted out stories for national papers and magazines at Medavia news agency, before landing a job in London working as a lifestyle assistant.

A big fan of adventure, Lauren is also a keen travel writer and loves sharing tips on where to find the best places to eat, drink, and be merry off the beaten track. Lauren has written a series of travel guides for London hotels and loves sharing her insights into a destination's cultural and culinary offerings. If you need a recommendation on any UK destination, she's more than happy to help. At the weekend, you'll usually find her hanging out with her pet cat (or anyone else's pet she can get her hands on), escaping to the countryside, or devouring a good book.