I'd do Anything - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh's search for new Oliver and Nancy

Two years ago most people hadn’t heard of Lee Mead or Connie Fisher. Since appearing on the reality TV programmes to find potential West End stars, both are now renowned leading West End stars; Connie as Maria Von Trapp in the Sound of Music and Lee in Joseph and the Amazing Colour Dreamcoat.

The hunt is now on for a third West End transition from a would be hopeful to playing a lead role in a West End show, Cameron Mackintosh’s “Oliver!”

The leading roles up for grabs are those of Nancy and Oliver, and the programme detailing the search is BBC’s “I’d Do Anything”.

The programme airs with a recap over auditions for the show, from which thousands of hopefuls are whittled down to just 100 from which 40 girls hoping to play Nancy will be chosen. From those the panel make their final selection of those who will go forward to compete in the live shows.

With those auditioning for the role of Oliver, 50 boys aged between 9 and 14 will be whittled down by Andrew Lord Webber and Cameron Mackintosh to just twelve who will appear on the live shows.

The boys will perform as a group each week and will need to impress the panel individually but will not be facing the public vote during this time.

The girls however will be facing the public vote and the voting is expected to follow similar pattern as the previous two shows How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do have done.

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