Operatic pop group Il Divo’s performance was axed on a major TV
special celebrating Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 40 years in showbusiness
after they forgot the lyrics to his song.
ITV producers and the legendary West End composer were enraged by the group’s ill-prepared rehearsal.
A fellow performer on the show, which will be broadcast on Easter Sunday, tells me: ‘It was unbelievably arrogant and disrespectful of Il Divo.
The
four members are Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, American tenor David
Miller, French pop singer Sebastien Izambard and Swiss tenor Urs Buhler
Andrew
and the top producers were watching the practice and the band didn’t
remember many of the words for the song they were meant to be
performing. Everyone was furious. Andrew even raised his voice and said:
“Get them off!” It was an understandable reaction.’
Representatives
for the embarrassed band lobbied producers to keep them in the show as
their participation was announced before filming.
It was agreed they could sing backing vocals for Michael Ball, the presenter of the 90-minute special, who closes the show with Love Changes Everything, which they previously recorded together on an album.
My source adds: ‘Michael was already going to be backed by a children’s choir. But it would have been impossible for Il Divo to have a more prominent role after Andrew’s reaction.’ Il Divo have sold more than 26 million records worldwide.
The four members (above, left to right) are Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, American tenor David Miller, French pop singer Sebastien Izambard and Swiss tenor Urs Buhler.
Other stars, including Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Walsh, Denise Van Outen, Samantha Barks and Mel C, gave flawless renditions of songs from Lloyd Webber’s musicals Cats, The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Doctor Who producers are
concerned The Doctor’s new assistant, former Emmerdale actress
Jenna-Louise Coleman (pictured), 26, is harbouring ambitions to become a
Hollywood star, potentially affecting her time with the drama.
My source reveals: ‘There’s already been a fair bit of interest in her from America and she wants to utilise that while she’s still considered fresh and hot. If she secured a regular role in a TV drama in LA, it would be virtually impossible to continue on Doctor Who after next year.’
Current Doctor Matt Smith is expected to leave the BBC series soon, possibly in the Christmas Day episode.
The winner of the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do has teamed up with fellow British actors Tom Ellis (Miranda), Raza Jaffrey (Spooks), Sid Owen (EastEnders), and Ben Richards (The Bill) to form a so-called ‘Brit brat pack’.
Ellis has been cast as Frankenstein in major new American ‘historical soap’ Gothica for ABC. But I hear 31-year-old Mead’s temporary move has put added pressure on his marriage to Denise Van Outen.
My American source says: ‘Denise is very supportive of Lee’s career and really wants him to follow his dreams. But obviously it’s been difficult because they’ve both been so busy pursuing their various work projects that they have hardly been able to properly see each other for the last six months.’
BBC News is on the hunt for a
location for its next General Election broadcast because the newsroom at
its new HQ in Central London isn’t big enough.
‘One option is to build a temporary studio somewhere else, but potentially that’s very expensive,’ my source reveals.
Brit actress Anna Friel has signed up for a controversial new U.S. drama about a fictitious pope.
The former star of ill-fated series Pushing Daisies plays a cardinal’s sister in The Vatican. ‘This is her second chance to become a TV star in the States,’ my Hollywood source says.
ITV producers and the legendary West End composer were enraged by the group’s ill-prepared rehearsal.
A fellow performer on the show, which will be broadcast on Easter Sunday, tells me: ‘It was unbelievably arrogant and disrespectful of Il Divo.
The
four members are Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, American tenor David
Miller, French pop singer Sebastien Izambard and Swiss tenor Urs BuhlerIt was agreed they could sing backing vocals for Michael Ball, the presenter of the 90-minute special, who closes the show with Love Changes Everything, which they previously recorded together on an album.
My source adds: ‘Michael was already going to be backed by a children’s choir. But it would have been impossible for Il Divo to have a more prominent role after Andrew’s reaction.’ Il Divo have sold more than 26 million records worldwide.
The four members (above, left to right) are Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, American tenor David Miller, French pop singer Sebastien Izambard and Swiss tenor Urs Buhler.
Other stars, including Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Walsh, Denise Van Outen, Samantha Barks and Mel C, gave flawless renditions of songs from Lloyd Webber’s musicals Cats, The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.
My source reveals: ‘There’s already been a fair bit of interest in her from America and she wants to utilise that while she’s still considered fresh and hot. If she secured a regular role in a TV drama in LA, it would be virtually impossible to continue on Doctor Who after next year.’
Current Doctor Matt Smith is expected to leave the BBC series soon, possibly in the Christmas Day episode.
Lee's American dream
Musical star Lee Mead has relocated to Los Angeles as he attempts to launch a career as a Hollywood actor.The winner of the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do has teamed up with fellow British actors Tom Ellis (Miranda), Raza Jaffrey (Spooks), Sid Owen (EastEnders), and Ben Richards (The Bill) to form a so-called ‘Brit brat pack’.
Ellis has been cast as Frankenstein in major new American ‘historical soap’ Gothica for ABC. But I hear 31-year-old Mead’s temporary move has put added pressure on his marriage to Denise Van Outen.
My American source says: ‘Denise is very supportive of Lee’s career and really wants him to follow his dreams. But obviously it’s been difficult because they’ve both been so busy pursuing their various work projects that they have hardly been able to properly see each other for the last six months.’
‘One option is to build a temporary studio somewhere else, but potentially that’s very expensive,’ my source reveals.
The former star of ill-fated series Pushing Daisies plays a cardinal’s sister in The Vatican. ‘This is her second chance to become a TV star in the States,’ my Hollywood source says.