I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008. The show centred on a search for a new, unknown lead to play Nancy and three young performers who would play Oliver Twist in the 2009 West End revival of the British musical Oliver!.
The show, named after the Oliver! song "I'd Do Anything", was hosted by Graham Norton with Andrew Lloyd Webber again overseeing the programme, together with theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh. In January 2008, John Barrowman confirmed he would be taking part in the show. The BBC also confirmed in late February 2008 that Barry Humphries would join Barrowman and Denise Van Outen (who was previously the presenter of the US Broadway reality show Grease: You're the One that I Want!) on the judging panel of the show.
Auditions for the show began in January 2008, with the show airing on BBC One throughout March, April and May 2008. In the final, on 31 May, Jodie Prenger was announced as the winner of the series.
Format Commissioned after the success of the two similar BBC series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, the series followed the same format to find a new unknown lead, but with two roles rather than one as in the previous two series. However, whilst the format for the Nancy was the same with the public choosing the winner, the three boys who would play the part of Oliver were chosen by the judging panel.
Criteria Auditions took place in 2008; in Belfast on 24 January, Manchester on 26–27 January, London from 1 to 3 February and Glasgow on 6 February with auditions for both parts taking place at the same venues and dates.
Nancy For the role of Nancy applicants needed to be aged 17 or over on 1 January 2008, with the playing age being 17–35. Entry was open to both amateur and professional performers. Stages one and two were the same as for the part of Oliver. At stage three though, the call-backs took place between 16 and 18 February when the show's panel interviewed the auditionees. There were then workshops and final audition performances between 21 and 26 February; and throughout mid-March, April and May for the television show. The "Nancys" had to impress the panel in the first two shows and, from programme three, they also had to gain viewer support to stay in with a chance of winning the role of Nancy.
Oliver For the role of Oliver applicants needed to be at least nine on 1 January 2008 and no older than 14 on 31 December 2008 with the part of Oliver being from nine to twelve years old. The auditions were in two stages. Those who made it through to the second stage were filmed and then twelve young performers went through to stage three, the live television show where each week they learned a piece to perform on the show. Eight boys went through to the semi-final. Three boys were then chosen in the final stage, with one of the final three performing at the press night of Oliver! Following expert advice in providing a duty of care to child contributors, the BBC announced on 13 March that the boys would not face a public vote, and that each week the "Olivers" would be performing musical tasks, learning the tricks of the theatre trade and also perform as a group, before the judging panel make their final choices.
Auditions The first programme, which aired on 15 March, charted the journeys of thousands of auditionees as they begin their quest for stardom in the regional auditions.
For the role of Nancy, just over a hundred young women were called to London to perform before the panel, consisting of John Barrowman, Denise Van Outen and David Grindrod. Those who stood out then had the chance to win a place at Nancy School, the next stage in the competition. For the role of Oliver, 50 young boys were selected to work with musical theatre experts before the final twelve were chosen for the live shows by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh.
The second programme, which aired on 22 March, focussed mainly on the 42 women at Nancy School and the procedure of finding the final twelve women to compete in the weekly live show for the part of Nancy. The twelve boys who would compete on the live show for the part of Oliver were also introduced throughout the programme.
Weekly format Saturday - Live The show opens with a group number by the Nancys and Olivers. Each Nancy then performs a song, with feedback provided by the panel and Lloyd Webber. The public votes for the contestant they wish to keep in the show. Voting closes shortly after the broadcast of the Saturday programme.
Footage of the Olivers' progress is shown, during which Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh select one to proceed through to the semi-final.
Sunday - Recorded after live show on Saturdays. The Oliver who was announced as a semi-finalist takes the lead with the other Olivers in a song. After the results of the public vote have been processed, the two Nancys with the fewest votes enter a "sing-off". Lloyd Webber then chooses which Nancy from the "sing-off" to save each week. The eliminated Nancy takes the lead in their sing-out medley of "Be Back Soon" and "As Long as He Needs Me".
Finalists
Nancy Twelve potential Nancys made it through the audition rounds and performed during the live shows. Each Nancy wore a unique coloured dress and a locket. At the end of every live show, the losing Nancy would have the locket stripped off by the Nancy who survived the singoff. In the final, on 31 May 2008, Jodie Prenger was announced as the winner.
Finalist Age * From Dress Colour StatusAmy Booth-Steel 24 Birmingham Lime Green Eliminated 1st in week 1 Cleopatra "Cleo" Royer 22 London Lilac Eliminated 2nd in week 2 Tara Bethan 24 Conwy Orange Eliminated 3rd in week 3 Francesca Jackson 24 West Glamorgan Baby Pink Eliminated 4th in week 4 Keisha Amponsa-Banson 23 London Gold Eliminated 5th in week 5 Sarah Lark 25 Glamorgan Pale Green Eliminated 6th in week 6 Ashley J Russell 24 Falkirk Dark Blue Eliminated 7th in week 7 Niamh Perry 17 Bangor, Northern Ireland Pink Eliminated 8th in week 8 Rachel Tucker 26 Belfast Yellow Eliminated 9th in week 9 Samantha Barks 17 Laxey, Isle of Man Blue 3rd Place (Eliminated in week 10) Jessie Buckley 18 Killarney, Ireland Dark Green Runner-up Jodie Prenger 28 Blackpool Purple Winner * as of the start of the series
Oliver Twelve potential Olivers made it through the audition rounds and performed in the live shows. Each Oliver was identified with a different coloured scarf, and during the first eight live shows, the Oliver who did best in the mission for that week made it through to the final eight. This Oliver would also receive a hat, and lead vocals in a performance with all the Olivers on the live show. Ultimately, Gwion Jones, Harry Stott and Laurence Jeffcoate were announced as the three winning Olivers in week nine on 24 May.
Finalist Age * From Scarf Colour Lead Vocal Reached Result Gareth Borrow 12 Derry Pink N/A Final 12 Eliminated in Week 8 Jordan Li-Smith 13 Wrexham Red N/A Final 12 Eliminated in Week 8 Joseph McNamara 9 Berkshire Yellow N/A Final 12 Eliminated in Week 8 Sam Cotton 10 Hampshire Dark Blue N/A Final 12 Eliminated in Week 8 Chester McKee 12 London Dark Red Week 2 Final 8 Eliminated in Week 9 Arthur Byrne 10 Bristol Purple Week 3 Final 8 Eliminated in Week 9 Kwayedza Kureya 13 Kent Light Blue Week 4 Final 8 Eliminated in Week 9 Alexander Hockaday 11 London Dark Orange Week 5 Final 8 Eliminated in Week 9 Jonny Clowes 13 Leamington Spa Dark Green Week 8 Final 8 Eliminated in Week 9 Gwion Jones 11 Carmarthenshire Light Green Week 1 Top 3 Winner Harry Stott 12 Oxfordshire Orange Week 6 Top 3 Winner Laurence Jeffcoate 11 Cheshire Beige Week 7 Top 3 Winner as of the start of the series
Results summary Colour key –Contestant was in the bottom two and who was saved after the sing off –Contestant was eliminated after the sing off –Contestant who received the most public votes
+Weekly results per contestant Contestant Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Quarter Final Semi Final Final Jodie Prenger Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Winner(week 10) Jessie Buckley Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Runner-up(week 10) Samantha Barks Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe 4th 3rd Place(week 10) Rachel Tucker Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe 7th Safe 4th 3rd Eliminated(week 9) Niamh Perry Safe Safe Safe Safe 7th Safe 5th 5th Eliminated(week 8) Ashley J Russell Safe Safe Safe 9th Safe Safe 6th Eliminated(week 7) Sarah Lark Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe 6th Eliminated(week 6) Keisha Amponsa-Banson Safe 11th 10th Safe 8th Eliminated(week 5) Francesca Jackson 11th Safe Safe 8th Eliminated(week 4) Tara Bethan Safe Safe 9th Eliminated(week 3) Cleo Royer Safe 10th Eliminated(week 2) Amy Booth-Steel 12th Eliminated(week 1)
Live shows
Week 1 (29/30 March) Gwion Jones was announced as the first Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show.
The show performances and missions were:
Group performances: Nancys and Olivers: "I'd Do Anything" Olivers: "Food, Glorious Food" Nancys: "Sound of the Underground" Gwion and the Olivers: "Bright Eyes" Missions: Nancys: Working in an East End market Olivers: Learning magic tricks with Paul Kieve
+ Contestants' performances on the first live show Act Performance Pair Order Song Result Jessie Buckley Pair 1 1 "River Deep - Mountain High" (Tina Turner) Safe Jodie Prenger 2 "Chasing Pavements" (Adele) Safe Tara Bethan Pair 2 3 "Suddenly I See" (KT Tunstall) Safe Ashley J Russell 4 "Black Velvet" (Alannah Myles) Safe Amy Booth-Steel Pair 3 5 "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) Bottom two Keisha Amponsa-Banson 6 "Mad About the Boy" (Dinah Washington) Safe Francesca Jackson Pair 4 7 "Hero" (Mariah Carey) Bottom two Rachel Tucker 8 "About You Now" (Sugababes) Safe Samantha Barks Pair 5 9 "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts) Safe Sarah Lark 10 "Get Here" (Oleta Adams) Safe Cleo Royer Pair 6 11 "Who Knew" (Pink) Safe Niamh Perry 12 "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (Cat Stevens) Safe
Panel's verdict on who was not Nancy: John Barrowman: Amy Booth-Steel Denise Van Outen: Tara Bethan Barry Humphries: Amy Booth-Steel
Sing-off: + Act Sing Off Song Results Amy Booth-Steel "Tell Me on a Sunday" Eliminated Francesca Jackson Saved by Lloyd Webber
Week 2 (5/6 April) Chester McKee was announced as the second Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show.
The show performances and missions were: Group performances: Nancys: "Oom-Pah-Pah" Olivers: "Electricity" from Billy Elliot the Musical Nancys: "Enough is Enough" Chester and the Olivers: "Pie Jesu" Missions: Nancys: Facing their fears interacting with rats and acting with Steven Hartley as Bill Sykes Olivers: Acting class in the West End at Billy Elliot the Musical
+ Contestants' performances on the second live show Act Performance Pair Order Song Result Niamh Perry Pair 1 1 "I've Got the Music in Me" (The Kiki Dee Band) Safe Cleo Royer 2 "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone) Bottom two Keisha Amponsa-Banson Pair 2 3 "Get the Party Started" (Pink) Bottom two Samantha Barks 4 "See the Day" (Dee C. Lee) Safe Francesca Jackson Solo Performance 5 "Somebody to Love" (Queen) Safe Rachel Tucker Pair 3 6 "Beautiful" (Christina Aguilera) Safe Sarah Lark 7 "Piece of My Heart" (Erma Franklin) Safe Tara Bethan Pair 4 8 "Without You" (Harry Nilsson) Safe Jodie Prenger 9 "I'm Every Woman" (Chaka Khan) Safe Ashley J Russell Pair 5 10 "Mercy" (Duffy) Safe Jessie Buckley 11 "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (Roberta Flack) Safe Panel's verdict on who was not Nancy: John Barrowman: Samantha Barks Denise Van Outen: Keisha Amponsa-Banson Barry Humphries: Keisha Amponsa-Banson
Sing-off: + Act Sing Off Song Results Cleo Royer "I Know Him So Well" from Chess Eliminated Keisha Amponsa-Banson Saved by Lloyd Webber
Week 3 (12/13 April) Arthur Byrne was announced as the third Oliver semi-finalist on the Saturday show.