The Stage

David Jason to explore amateur dramatics for Five

Published Friday 12 March 2010 at 11:10 by Matthew Hemley

David Jason is to mentor an amateur dramatics company for a 60-minute documentary to be shown on Five.

According to the broadcaster, The Show Must Go On will “reveal the trials and tribulations” of the actors and crew from the chosen theatre company, as they prepare to present a comedy play.

In the documentary, Jason will select the comedy play for the chosen society to perform.

The society then have three weeks to cast, learn and rehearse the play, and present it in a West End theatre.

Jason, best known for Only Fools and Horses and A Touch of Frost, said: “I was astonished to learn that there are hundreds of thousands of amateur actors and groups around the country enjoying local drama as I did many years ago. It was such a great way for me to enter into the theatre and so I was very excited about the prospect of returning to the world of Am Dram and seeing behind the scenes.”

He added: “I hope the viewers will enjoy the programme as we see the exploits of one such theatre group.”

Andrew O’Connell, Five controller of factual, described securing Jason as “a huge coup for the channel”.

“We’re delighted to have someone of his calibre attached to The Show Must Go On,” he said.