The Stage

Joseph and Grease stars are decided in TV show finales

Published Monday 11 June 2007 at 13:05 by Matthew Hemley

Viewers of ITV’s Grease is the Word have voted for Susan McFadden and Danny Bayne to star in a new West End production of Grease.

Meanwhile, fans of rival BBC show Any Dream Will Do decided Lee Mead should play Joseph in a new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

On ITV1, McFadden and Bayne beat off competition from Michelle Antrobus and Anthony Kavanagh to scoop the roles of Danny and Sandy in Grease, which will open on July 25 at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

Over on BBC1, Mead beat Keith Jack and Lewis Bradley to the role of Joseph.

Mead, who had been an understudy in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera, said: “I’m shocked, I was obviously hoping that I’d do well, but it hasn’t sunk in at all. I feel incredible - it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Judge Denise Van Outen said that Mead had been “the most consistent” out of all the contestants and said he had his own unique style of performing.

In the ratings war, the main Any Dream Will Do show between 8.05pm and 9.10pm attracted 6.6 million viewers and a 34% share. The results show at 10pm scored 7.6 million viewers and a share of 35%.

Grease is the Word attracted 4 million viewers and a 21% share between 7.55pm and 9.25pm.

• You can listen to interviews with the winners of Grease Is The Word, Susan McFadden and Danny Bayne as well as judge and producer David Ian on the official The Stage Podcast