Interview | Graham Norton

Please sir, can I have a job… Yes, Graham Norton is back with another star search and, this time around, he’s looking for a Nancy in a new West End production of Oliver!

I’d Do Anything begins on Saturday 15 March on BBC1, and promises to be essential viewing here at TV & Satellite Week Towers.

As much as we loved the ever-so-slightly-creepy-looking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s previous trawls for a new Maria and Joseph, we much prefer top-hatted pickpockets, kindly prostitutes and a bit of oom-pah-pah to twee nuns or sartorially-dressed biblical figures.

The series kicks off with nationwide auditions as girls from all over the land give their best Cockernee tart-with-a-heart impressions as they audition to play ill-fated Nancy.

In a new twist – pardon the pun – to the main search, Lloyd Webber is also looking for some wide-eyed, urchin-faced little boys to ask for more and become the next Oliver.

When it gets to the live knockout stages, John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen will be back on the judging panel, along with Barry Humphries, who has played Fagin on stage. Maybe Dame Edna herself might audition for Nancy!

We caught up with Norton to find out more – click on the read more link below to, er… read more!

Has the format changed from the Maria and Joseph shows?
We’ve mixed it up a bit. This time we’re casting for two roles – Nancy and Oliver. We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the response for Nancy. Ten thousand girls auditioned, and we were still seeing people at midnight.

Why is the role of Nancy so popular?
I think it’s because no-one has a fixed idea of what Nancy looks like. She could be young, old, tall, thin, black, white. So whereas many girls thought, “I don’t stand a chance as Maria”, Nancy is wide open. It’s almost upsetting how much they want the part, because roles like this hardly ever come along.

What’s the situation with the Olivers?
We have our top 12, but the public won’t be voting for them. We felt that would be too cruel and exposing. They were supposed to be a little sideline to the Nancy search, but believe me, the Olivers are going to steal the show. They’re fabulous.

Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh is involved this time, isn’t he?
Yes. He’ll be putting the show on in the West End, but Andrew Lloyd Webber is still the one with the power to save people or send them home. I imagine Cameron will get really upset some weeks and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are fisticuffs!

Will this be the last of the Lloyd Webber talent shows?
I really don’t know. Every year we think it will be the last one because it’s such hard work. But I think this is going to be the most hard-fought, and probably the most controversial.