All that jazz! BIG NIGHT OF MUSICALS
Jason Manford gets the party started as he returns to host BBC1’S musical extravaganza…
Q You’re hosting BBC1’S
Big Night of Musicals for the third year running. What’s the atmosphere like at the AO Arena, Manchester?
A It’s one big party – the energy is electric!
It can be a oncein-a-lifetime thing to play to 15,000 people in an arena, so all our performers are excited. The audience are coming to see the actual casts of these musicals, with costumes and props and a huge orchestra, so they feel privileged to be there. There’s definitely something in the air.
Q Which musicals are you looking forward to seeing?
A There’s Disney’s Aladdin, Hamilton, and also Mrs. Doubtfire, which I’ve seen on Broadway, but not the West End. Les Misérables is always a real standout – that usually gets a standing ovation.
Q You’re joined this year by The Bodyguard star Beverley Knight. How has that been?
A Beverley and I are friends and I love that she’s involved. When I hosted the Olivier Awards in 2022, Beverley was nominated [for Best Actress in a Musical for The Drifters Girl] and was rehearsing for a performance with five other fantastic West End stars and they were all looking at her like, ‘Who is this?’ She’s just otherworldly.
Q You sang From Now On from The Greatest Showman last year. Are you performing again?
A Yes, we’ve got an opening number. It’ll be a really good, solid opener for the show. I think the audience will go wild! Q Is there a musical role you’d love to play? A I’d love to do something original, a new musical that goes on to become part of the theatre landscape. But I’d also love to play the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, and maybe Les Misérables, playing either Thénardier or Javert. Q Would you ever write a musical? A I’m writing something at the moment based on the origins of Captain Hook. I’ve been working with producer Michael Harrison and Gary Barlow. He’s been writing songs for it and we might have something to show people later this year.