The Stage

Stars of Mamma Mia! appear in new series of The South Bank Show

Published Monday 10 March 2008 at 15:10 by Matthew Hemley

Stars from the stage and screen versions of Mamma Mia! are to be featured in an edition of The South Bank Show.

Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep - who star in the film version due for release in July - are among some of the names lined up to appear in the programme. It will also contain interviews with Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from ABBA and behind the scenes footage of a new opening of the production in Europe.

There will also be contributions from the creative team behind the show, which has taken more than £1.5 billion at the box office.

Also in the new season of The South Bank Show will be a programme looking at the career of Liza Minnelli, who has been filmed on her latest world tour. The programme will look at Minnelli’s relationship with her mother, Judy Garland, and will include exclusive footage of her performing.

Elsewhere, The South Bank Show will examine the relationship between comedy and tragedy through the work and relationships of comedian Jim Sweeney and the Comedy Store Players, which will include his last live performance, filmed in December 2007.

The arts programme will also pay tribute to Ronnie Corbett, with a show featuring new material from the comedian.

All are being made by ITV’s specialist factual and arts department, headed by Melvyn Bragg.

The department has also been commissioned to make Comedy Classics, a new documentary series celebrating shows such as Rising Damp and On the Buses. Each programme will pay homage to a different comedy, with the show featured broadcast in its entirety afterwards.