I'D DO ANYTHING... TO BE IN OLIVER!

- U.S premiere of the talent search for the theatre stars of tomorrow -

Following on the heels of last year's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria and Any Dream Will Do, I'd Do Anything again brings together the dream team of talk-show host Graham Norton and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. This time the duo are on a mission to find new talent for the roles of Nancy and a total of three youthful prot�g�s to play orphan Oliver in the West End production of the much-loved musical Oliver!

To help choose their Nancy and mentor the hopeful aspiring Olivers, Norton and Webber are joined by Torchwood star John Barrowman, Broadway and West End leading lady Denise Van Outen, producer Cameron Mackintosh and, for the first time, actor and star of musical theatre Barry Humphries, who has appeared in several productions of Oliver! both in the West End and on Broadway. I'd Do Anything premieres Wednesday, October 27, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

From open auditions across the UK, 100 girls are whittled down from thousands to perform before the panel. At the London call backs they have to prove their worth by performing two contrasting songs -a contemporary pop number and one of the Nancy songs from Oliver! - before the panel make their deliberations and reduce the successful group to just over 40 girls. The girls then enter the "Nancy School," where a team of coaches work with them to hone their vocal, acting, movement and improvisation skills. The rigorous regime of individual scrutiny and group tasks reveals who among them has the sheer guts as well as performing potential to survive to the final selection of just 12 girls.

Meanwhile 50 young boys aged between nine and 14 are selected to work with musical theatre experts before they perform for Webber and Mackintosh. 12 are then chosen to continue onto the televised shows.

Each week the wannabe Olivers will be given a musical task and also perform as a group. They will not face a vote, but must continue to impress Andrew and the panel to guarantee a place in the semi-final. And in time-honored tradition, the Nancys will be vying to make their mark on the panel, but they will also need to gain the UK public's support to keep them in with a chance of winning the coveted role to play Nancy in the West End production of Oliver!

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ABOUT THE JUDGES

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the composer of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind among many others. He also composed the film scores for Gumshoe and The Odessa File, and a setting of the Latin Requiem Mass. He has won seven Tony awards, three Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honor and was knighted in 1992.

Graham Norton

BAFTA award winning comedy talk show host, Graham Norton previously hosted the talent search, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do with Andrew Lloyd Webber. He currently hosts BBC AMERICA's weekly chat show, The Graham Norton Show.

John Barrowman

John Barrowman became a household name following his role as Captain Jack, first in Doctor Who and then on BBC AMERICA's series, Torchwood. He was most recently seen on ABC's Desperate Housewives. He has also been a stalwart leading actor in musical theatre throughout his career and has released several albums.

Denise Van Outen

Denise Van Outen has a long history as the West End's leading lady. She is best known for her role as Roxie Hart in Chicago, both in the West End and Broadway productions. She has also appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday. She also co-presented the hit show You're The One That I Want on NBC.

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries is best known as the internationally celebrated Dame Edna. He has also appeared in numerous West End productions, among them the original 1960 stage production of Oliver! in which he created the role of undertaker Mr Sowerberry. He went on to reprise the role on Broadway in 1963. In 1967, he starred as Fagin in the Piccadilly Theatre's revival and subsequently reprised the role in Cameron Mackintosh's award-winning staging at the London Palladium. Barry received a special 2000 Tony Award for his Broadway show and a Tony nomination for his last Broadway offering, Back With A Vengeance.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh

Cameron Mackintosh's first collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber was for the longest-running musical ever, Cats which opened in 1981. He then went on to produce Les Miserables and The Phantom Of The Opera. Subsequent successes included Miss Saigon and a revival of Oliver! at the Palladium (followed by a national tour). In 2004, Cameron produced the stage musical of Mary Poppins both in the West End and on Broadway, where it won a Tony Award. He was knighted in 1996 for his services to the British Theatre.

FAST FACTS ABOUT OLIVER!

· Oliver! was the creation of British composer, playwright and lyricist Lionel Bart (1930-1999).

· He had no formal music education and could neither read nor write music.

· Oliver! first opened at the New Theatre (later the Albery and now the Noel Coward Theatre) in June 1960 and ran for more than 2,600 performances.

· The show opened on Broadway in 1963.

· Oliver! has been performed throughout the world in 15 different languages.

· In 1968, the film version of Oliver! was released, starring Mark Lester in the title role. In 1969, the film won five Oscars including Best Picture and five other Oscar nominations.

· It was also nominated for eight BAFTAs in the same year, as well as winning two Golden Globes and being nominated for a further three.

· In "Food, Glorious Food," the boys dream of cold jelly and custard. But in foreign translations of productions, some of the local delicacies they long for are goulash soup (Hungary), meat pudding (Sweden) and huge cakes and pork chops (Poland)!

EPISODE SYNPOSES

Episode 1

Graham Norton hosts Andrew Lloyd Webber and the panel's search to find the UK's ultimate Nancy and Oliver to star in the West End production. The potential leading ladies are put through their paces at 'Nancy School'. But, which 12 Nancys will ultimately be left standing and perform for the public vote next time? Meanwhile, 12 lucky boys receive the glorious news that they could be Oliver.

Episode 1 premieres Wednesday, October 27, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 2

The nation's 12 potential Nancys and Olivers perform in the studio for the first time in front of the Lord, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the expert panel. But who will the UK viewers consider to be the West End's next female star and which potential Oliver will have impressed the panel?

Episode 2 premieres Wednesday, November 3, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 3

The remaining eleven potential Nancys battle it out for their dream West End role and another lucky Oliver is selected to go through to the semi-final. Plus, the Nancys complete their second mission of the series.

Episode 3 premieres Wednesday, November 10, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 4

The remaining ten Nancys battle it out to stay in the competition and out of the dreaded sing-off. Who will take that next big step closer to West End fame and impress the expert panel and Andrew Lloyd Webber? Plus, the boys perform and one more lucky urchin finds out that he potentially could be Oliver.

Episode 4 premieres Wednesday, November 17, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 5

Graham Norton continues the nation's search to find the West End's next Nancy and Oliver. The remaining nine Nancys battle it out for the public's vote, watched closely by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the expert panel. Plus the young Olivers return with another performance and discover who is the next lucky boy to go through to the semi-final.

Episode 5 premieres Wednesday, November 24, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 6

The remaining eight Nancys perform for the UK viewer's vote under the ever watchful eye of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Plus, find out who is the next lucky Oliver to make it through to the semi-final.

Episode 6 premieres Wednesday, December 1, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 7

The search for the West End's next stars of Oliver heats up as another Nancy leaves the competition, but who will Andrew Lloyd Webber save in the dreaded sing off? Plus the young Olivers discover who is the next to go through to the semi-final.

Episode 7 premieres Wednesday, December 8, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 8

Five girls remain, but who will win a precious place in the quarter finals? Plus the Olivers return with another glorious performance. Episode 8 premieres Wednesday, December 15, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 8 premieres Wednesday, December 15, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 9

The panel reveals the final Oliver who gets the spot in the next show when the three winning urchins will be announced.

Episode 9 premieres Wednesday, December 22, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 10

The pressure is on as the four remaining Nancys battle it out for the nation's votes to secure their place in next week's Grand Final. Plus, host Graham Norton announces which lucky boys have become the West End's ultimate urchins as the three winning Olivers are announced. Episode 10 premieres Wednesday, December 29, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Episode 11

Graham Norton hosts the dramatic finale as the remaining three girls battle it out to win the dream role of a lifetime.

Episode 11 premieres Wednesday, January 5, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.