The Stage

Spacey attacks BBC’s Lloyd Webber shows as “unfair” promotions

Published Monday 31 March 2008 at 11:30 by Alistair Smith

Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey has hit out at BBC talent shows such as Any Dream Will Do and I’ll Do Anything, criticising them as simply “a 13-week promotion for a musical”.

Speaking to the BBC, Spacey said that he felt the shows were “unfair” and were “crossing the line” in terms of the fact that they were acting as advertising for a commercial venture.

He added: “I felt that [the BBC talent show] was essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical - where’s our 13-week programme? I have spoken to [the BBC] chairman but he has yet to get back to me.”

Instead, Spacey suggested that the BBC bring back its Play for Today strand and that it should broadcast a theatre series “to help kids find their own sense of self-esteem, confidence and ability to collaborate”.

Last year, the BBC trust dismissed claims that How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? provided advertising for Andrew Lloyd Webber and his production of The Sound of Music. However, the trust said it was concerned about the role of The Sound of Music’s co-producer David Ian as a member of the BBC1 show’s judging panel, and claimed it would have been better for him not to have been included.

The trust’s Editorial Standards Committee was responding to complaints the BBC show could be “considered commercial advertising” for Lloyd Webber and that the role of the show’s judges was “often primarily about the success of the coming West End production and the need to fill seats”.

The Corporation’s current talent show I’d Do Anything does not include the ensuing West End show’s producer on the TV series’ judging panel. Cameron Mackintosh will instead “keep an eye” on the progress of the contestants.