The special celebration for musicals is set to take place on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 , with the full line up having been announced.
Forming the centre piece for BBC Radio 2’s Radio 2 Celebrates Musicals, three days of programmes (29th to the 31st January) featuring the music of stage and screen for people to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes, including playing just songs from musical theatre and film across a whole day, and further programming on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.
Musicals: The Greatest Show will be hosted by Sheridan Smith and will be broadcast first on Radio 2 from 7pm – 9pm on Sunday 31st January on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and then as a 75-minute show in February on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It will be available on BBC iPlayer for a year after broadcast.
The line up for this special event is set to include the following:
- Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime performing “When You Believe” from The Prince Of Egypt (on Radio 2 only).
- Former Elphaba Kerry Ellis singing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
- Aisha Jawando of the West End production of TINA, The Tina Turner Musical will perform “The Best”.
- Mazz Murray, Kate Graham and Jo Napthine of MAMMA MIA! performing “Dancing Queen”.
- Josh Groban singing “The Impossible Dream” from Man Of La Mancha (on Radio 2 only).
- From Los Angeles, Nicole Scherzinger performs “Never Enough” from movie musical The Greatest Showman.
- Elaine Paige singing Sunset Boulevard‘s “As If We Never Said Goodbye” (on Radio 2 only).
- Ivano Turco performs “Only You, Lonely You” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s upcoming mucsical Cinderella.
- The cast of Six performing “Six”.
- Michael Ball singing “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray .
- Sheridan Smith performs “Don’t Rain On My Parade” from Funny Girl
- Gavin Spokes, from the West End production of Hamilton, will perform hit number “You’ll Be Back”
- Sheridan Smith and Amanda Holden duet on “I Know Him So Well” from Chess.
- Ramin Karimloo sings “The Music Of The Night” from The Phantom Of The Opera.
- Layton Williams of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie performs “The Wall In My Head”.
- Sam Tutty sings “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen, alongside members of the West End cast.
- Lea Salonga performs I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables – with her performance recorded in Manila.
- Jac Yarrow, with the public, performing Any Dream Will Do from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Talking about the special event, host Sheridan Smith said: “I’m thrilled to be hosting this wonderful show from The London Palladium for Radio 2 and BBC One. With so many amazing performers we’re going to hopefully bring some joy to all those at home, with the best songs to help lift the spirits in these very difficult times.”
Meanwhile, Kate Phillips, Channel Controller, BBC One, says: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Radio 2 to bring a fantastic array of talented artists to BBC One. Viewers will get the chance to see and hear many iconic songs from some of the best of musicals at a time when visiting theatres just isn’t possible.”