Saturday night Television entertainment seems set to echo to the sounds of fresh musical talent, with the heartening news of an ambitious BBC programme designed to unearth the next Take That. Add into the mix the intriguing combination of Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc as co-presenters and the Beeb will be hoping that they are on to a ratings winner.
Collaboration with Take That stars
BBC One’s “Let It Shine” has been designed with the main goal of establishing a group that will feature in the stage show The Band, which showcases the Music of Take That.
Gary Barlow and his fellow bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald have collaborated on the stage production, as they seek to recreate the magic that has been sprinkled liberally over their own musical careers.
Norton and Giedroyc to form a witty double-act
Norton is fast becoming an old hand at presenting music programmes, having firmly established himself as a witty frontman for the annual BBC presentation of the Eurovision Song Contest. Alongside him, 48-year-old Giedroyc has also shown off her ad-libbing talents through popular shows such as “The Great British Bake Off” and earlier in the year on the BBC’s show “You Decide” to pick the United Kingdom entry for Eurovision.
Barlow excited at the prospect
Take That’s Barlow is clearly excited at the prospect of searching for the musical stars for the next generation.
Commenting about the new programme he reflected on the band’s early days, modestly suggesting that back in the late 80s they were “just a group of normal guys from Manchester who came together.” He added that the focus of the new show will be on finding people “from all walks of life to form another unique group.”
Will it be another BBC ratings winner?
With Saturday evening viewing being a notoriously key battleground for both the BBC and its rival ITV, the BBC’s Controller of TV Channels, Charlotte Moore will be hoping that “Let It Shine” proves to be a winner. Her wish seems to be that the entertainment programme will “bring families together” and demonstrate “Britain’s love of musical theatre.”
