BBC One and BBC Radio 2 are launching a series of shows that will celebrate musical theatre, under the banner Musicals: The Greatest Show.
Hosted by Sheridan Smith, the series of programmes will begin on Radio 2 from 7pm to 9pm on Sunday 31st January. This will be followed by a televised broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in February.
As Radio 2 celebrates the music from stage and screen they will bring listeners three days of programming that audiences will enjoy from the comfort of their own homes.
Musical theatre performer and Radio 2 presenter Elaine Paige commented on how “musicals are such a huge part of my life, as they are for so many of my friends and colleagues, so to be unable to perform or go to the theatre for most of last year was devastating for us all. Radio 2 Celebrates Musicals is a way for us all to come together, to be uplifted and sing out loud to the world’s best show tunes”.
The scheduled programmes feature performances from Lea Salonga, Michael Ball and Kerry Ellis. Also included are Sam Tutty and cast members of Dear Evan Hansen for a performance of ‘You Will Be Found,’ the Queens from Six with their title number, and previous Mamma Mia performers for a rendition of ‘Dancing Queen.’
The head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas hopes that the shows “will help to lift the spirits and capture the joy and elation that only these wonderful songs and performers can bring.”
Words by Neve Gordon-Farleigh.
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Image: BBC