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ITV axe big budget talent show with all-star line-up after losing out to Strictly Come Dancing
The show was inspired by a slew of musical theatre based talent shows broadcast by the BBC in the late 2000s
ZOE Ball and Alan Carr’s musical extravaganza Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream has been shelved after one series despite its all-star cast.
The talent show found two brand new theatre stars to take on the lead roles as Sophie and Sky in the beloved production, which celebrates the music of Abba.
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The winners, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley, made their debut West End performances at the end of January and are still going strong.
But the same can’t be said about the ITV show itself, which was filmed in Corfu last spring.
Host Zoe yesterday revealed a new series would not be made.
It was expected that the series could return with the same celebrity panel to support a whole new musical.
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Chatting on Radio 2, she said: "We’re not going back to Corfu [where the show was filmed].
“This time last year we were packing our bags to go there but - and it’s a shame."
Guest Alan Carr, who was a judge on the series, replied: "I loved doing that show.";
The format was similar to that of the BBC competitions How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do, I'd Do Anything and Over the Rainbow which aired in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 respectively - proving the show can be remodelled and run as consecutive series.
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ITV’s Mamma Mia search saw 14 contestants - seven men and seven women - battle it out to bag a place in the iconic West End show.
Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream sparks fix row as fans slam ITV judges for ‘rigged’ elimination
Mamma Mia's creator Judy Craymer led the hunt and was assisted by Alan, Glee star Amber Riley, theatre performer Samantha Barks and popstar Jessie Ware.
Whilst the talent show managed to muster a peak of 1.9million for its finale - broadcast live from London’s Novello Theatre, its scheduling from October to December meant it was up against entertainment heavyweight Strictly Come Dancing.
It was later confirmed that another contestant, Zachkiel Smith, found a new role in the ensemble of Back to the Future the Musical, and another Desmonda Cathabel is currently starring in the Aladdin UK and Ireland tour.
An ITV spokesman said: “Mamma Mia I Have A Dream was commissioned to celebrate 25 years of the musical, so was only ever intended to be a one off series. The show sought to find a new Sophie and Sky, who are now starring in the West End musical.”
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