AMANDA HOLDEN CONFIRMED AS SUPERSTAR HOST FOR THE ITV STUDIOS PRODUCED SERIES

ADDITIONAL GUEST ARTISTS WILL JOIN THROUGHOUT THE LIVE SHOWS

Following this week’s Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour casting announcement, ITV1 and Andrew Lloyd Webber today announce further details about Superstar and the forthcoming televised live shows in the Summer.

All live show finalists in the series, produced by ITV studios, will be battling it out on stage to sing the title role of Jesus in the first ever UK arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary Jesus Christ Superstar.  This new rock production will play in arenas nationwide in the Autumn and demands not only the highest vocal standards but also someone that can act and captivate massive arena audience.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, with the assistance of David Grindrod, Melanie C and Jason Donovan, have now finished the nationwide audition tour which also included vocal and performance challenges.

Superstar host Amanda Holden (Britain’s Got Talent, Cutting It, The Grimley’s), has been on hand for all the auditionees throughout the latter stages of the search getting to know each of their personalities.

“It’s an absolute honour to be working with Andrew on Superstar.  We’ve discovered some wonderful talent for the viewers, I already feel very protective of them, I’m like Mother Hen with all my boys!” said Amanda Holden

Also confirmed today are British actress, writer and comedy legend, Dawn French (Jam & Jerusalem and The Vicar of Dibley) and award winning singer, actor, Jason Donovan (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla) who will be joining Andrew on the live show judging panel.

Comedienne Dawn French said “I’m gagging to find Jesus with the help of the Good Lord.  I have actually been searching for him my whole life, and I can’t believe that inside a few weeks we are going to find him.  The fact that he is going to be a Rock God is a massive bonus.”

Jason Donovan who has made his mark already on Superstar by assisting Andrew in the early stages of the competition moves to a judging seat next to Andrew and Dawn. Melanie C, who will take on the role of Mary Magdalene in the arena tour, will continue to support the judges during the live shows.

“We have unearthed some cracking talent so far and I’m really pleased I’ve had time to get to know the finalists as we’ve moved through the competition stages.  It’s an honour to sit by Andrew on the judging panel and I can’t wait for the live shows to start” said Jason Donovan

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “The prize of this talent search has to be the biggest of any reality show ever.  The winner will be part of a star cast including Tim Minchin, Mel C and Chris Moyles playing in arenas up and down the country.  I am thrilled with the finalists I have chosen to put through to the live shows, they could not be a more varied bunch.  Viewers will have some really exciting performances to look forward to.”

The live show judges will offer their opinions to each of the finalists on stage as they battle it out to win the votes of the British public. The various special guest artists will also be invited to offer their opinions on the contenders.

The winner’s prize will be the leading role in a new arena tour of the legendary Jesus Christ Superstar which will open at London’s O2 arena on 21st September.

Casting for the UK Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar was announced this week, with Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Chris Moyles joining the Superstar winner onstage. Tickets for the tour go onsale from 9am today, Friday 18th May. For more information on the tour, including dates and venues, click here.

Superstar is executive produced by Peter Davey with Katharine Begg as series producer.

Superstar is an ITV Studios production for ITV1.

Click here for full information on venues and dates – tickets will be onsale TOMORROW morning, Friday 18th May, from 9am.

Award-winning musical comedian Tim Minchin will play Judas Iscariot, three million album selling pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C appears as Mary, and BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles is set to make his major stage debut as King Herod.

Tim, Melanie, Chris, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber are pictured here at The O2 Arena in London, where the tour will open on Friday 21 September. Tickets for all tour dates go onsale this Friday 18th May from 9am. Click here for full information.

THE PUBLIC TO CAST THE ROLE OF ‘JESUS’

TICKETS ON SALE NOW – CLICK HERE

DIGITALLY REMASTERED ALBUM RELEASED 16 JULY

The Really Useful Group and AEG Live today announce the first ever UK arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar.

Award-winning musical comedian Tim Minchin – also the co-writer of West End smash musical Matilda – is confirmed for the role of ‘Judas Iscariot’. Three million album selling pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C will take the only female lead as ‘Mary Magdalene’, and BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles will make his major stage debut as ‘King Herod’, in what is set to be one of the biggest and most impressive arena tours to hit the UK.

The ITV primetime show ‘Superstar’ will give the UK public the chance to decide who will play the starring role of ‘Jesus’, with a panel of live show judges led by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Celebrating 40 years since it first opened in London’s West End, the Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour kicks off in London on 21 September before visiting Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool and Nottingham. The tour culminates in Sheffield on 21 October.

Tickets for the UK tour priced £45-65 go on sale at 9.00am on Friday 18 May.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said:

“Jesus Christ Superstar began life as an album followed by a sell-out arena tour of the US.  Our very first show was at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we played to over 13,000 people.  Tim and I have always wanted to take Superstar back to its roots and we are both delighted that it will finally play an arena tour in the UK in venues where many of the world’s great rock acts have gone before.  We’re thrilled to have such great talent in the cast for the new show – they are all true ambassadors of UK entertainment. The re-mastered album sounds fantastic and we hope that fans both old and new will enjoy it.”

Tim Minchin said:

“As a huge fan of Jesus Christ Superstar, I’ve always thought it needed 3 key things: a big cast and band; loads of volume; and me playing Judas. I’ve been in two small productions of the show, and understudied the big man both times. I am really bloody excited about this.”

Melanie C said:

“I have been lucky enough to perform at  arenas across the globe and to star in London’s West End but taking on the role of Mary Magdalene in the incredible Jesus Christ Superstar has to be one my most exciting challenges to date.

I can’t wait to take the show to some of my favourite venues in the UK with such a talented and formidable cast including Tim and Chris.”

Chris Moyles said:

“To receive a phonecall from Andrew is very cool, but then when he asks you to be in his musical that’s pretty amazing and there is only one thing to respond with… And that is yes! Absolutely! My mum’s gonna be well excited!”

The original multi-million selling Jesus Christ Superstar double-album, released in 1970, became a No.1 hit record in the US charts and spawned the live show phenomenon. The album features Ian Gillan as ‘Jesus’, Murray Head as ‘Judas Iscariot’, Mike d’Abo as ‘Herod’ and Yvonne Elliman as ‘Mary Magdalene’, plus legendary rock music session musicians such as Neil Hubbard (Bryan Ferry, BB King, Elton John), Chris Spedding (Roxy Music, John Cale), Alan Spenner (Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton) and Bruce Rowland (Paul McCartney’s Wings, Fairport Convention). The album has been digitally re-mastered and will be released on 16 July through Polydor.

The Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour is a co-production between AEG Live, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group.  ‘Superstar’ is an ITV Studios Production for ITV1. Jesus Christ Superstar the album is released by Polydor, a division of Universal Music.

Jesus Christ Superstar Tour Dates:

Friday 21 September           London O2 Arena
Tuesday 25 September        Glasgow SECC
Friday 28 September           Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Sunday 30 September         Manchester Arena
Tuesday 2 October               Cardiff Motorpoint
Thursday 4 October             Birmingham NIA
Tuesday 9 October                Belfast Odyssey (on sale 24th May at 9am)
Friday 12 October                 Dublin O2 (on sale 24th May at 9am)
Tuesday 16 October             Liverpool Echo Arena
Friday 19 October                 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Sunday 21 October               Sheffield Motorpoint

For more information on the Broadway production, visit SuperstarOnBroadway.com.

The production, directed by Des McAnuff, is nominated for Best Revival of a Musical, while Josh Young – who plays Judas Iscariot – is up for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards® are presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. The two organizations have jointly administered the Tonys since 1967, the year of the first Tony telecast.

The winners of the 2012 Tony Awards will be announced in a special ceremony which will be broadcast live from the Beacon Theatre on CBS, Sunday, June 10th, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay).

For the full list of nominees, visit the Tony Awards website, and go to SuperstarOnBroadway.com for the latest on Jesus Christ Superstar Broadway.

View footage from the Broadway production below, and visit www.superstaronbroadway.com for more information.