Gary Barlow is to combine his blossoming musical theatre career with his pop pedigree to launch a television talent search for the stars of a new stage show featuring the songs of Take That.
After months of rumours surrounding the BBC’s hunt for a new talent show to fill the void left by the departure of The Voice to ITV, Barlow unveiled plans for the BBC1 Saturday prime-time series using footage of his surprise appearance at a Bristol shopping centre last month.
Launched under the working title Let It Shine, the show aims to discover five talented performers to star in a Mamma Mia! style musical lined up to tour the UK from September next year ahead of a West End run.
The stage show The Band has been created by Barlow in association with current band mates Howard Donald and Mark Owen.
Barlow will lead the televised talent search and appear on screen each week along with three guest mentors. There are no details at this time regarding the involvement of either Donald or Owen or former band members Robbie Williams and Jason Orange in the TV series.
Planned as an eight-week competition, the television show is planned to reflect the all-singing all-dancing spectacle of a Take That concert, and will be presented by two of the BBC’s biggest names Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc.
A return to the programme format previously used to find stars for various Andrew Lloyd Webber-produced shows, the series has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, BBC controller of TV channels and iPlayer, alongside Alan Tyler, acting controller of BBC Entertainment Commissioning, and Rachel Ashdown, commissioning editor for BBC Entertainment.
Unveiling plans for his latest musical theatre project following on from the success of Finding Neverland and The Girls, Barlow said: “Back in 1989, we were just a group of normal guys from Manchester who came together to become Take That.
“The secret to our success was that each of us brought something different to the group and that the five of us had real chemistry. Now with Let It Shine we’re looking for people from all walks of life to form another unique group who can re-create that magic. If you think you’ve got what it takes, we want to see it!”
The announcement of Barlow-led talent show ends months of media speculation surrounding the BBC’s search for a Saturday night entertainment format that could be a ratings winner.
Although a project involving Barlow had seemed to be the most likely choice given the star’s popularity and his experience as a judge on rival show The X Factor, the musical theatre element has come as a surprise.
While popular with viewers, the BBC/Lloyd Webber partnership did attract some criticism, especially from rival theatre producers unhappy about the commercial implications of such a series.
The BBC’s press release for the Barlow series avoids any mention of the TV corporation’s previous foray into the world of musical theatre with BBC controller of TV channels and iPlayer, Moore simply commenting: “BBC1’s new Saturday night show will bring families together to celebrate Britain’s love of musical theatre, combining singing, performance and dance in a hotly contested search to find a new group. Masterminded by Gary Barlow, our sensational hosts Graham and Mel will guide viewers through eight weeks of unmissable competition, all to win a dream place in a new stage show.”
Norton, who previously presented the Lloyd Webber talent searches, said: “The combination of the BBC, everyone’s favourite band and Saturday nights made this an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. If I wasn’t a part of Let It Shine, I know I would be watching it at home – this way I just get the best seat in the house.”
Co-presenter Giedroyc added: “This show brings together so many of the things I love – singing, dancing, Gary Barlow and Graham Norton. What’s not to love? I can’t wait to meet the singers and see the performances, which I know will be utterly spectacular. If you know someone who’s got the moves, whether they already sing in the shower or on the stage, we want to see them.”
Auditions will take place across the UK in July and August with filming beginning in September. For further information, visit www.bbc.co.uk/takepart.
Let It Shine is a BBC Studios Entertainment Production, overseen by Guy Freeman, editor of formats and special events, and executive producer Andrew Cartmell.
Angela Thomas
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