Theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn has criticised the BBC One programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, claiming it does not represent the reality of a casting process.

Nunn believes the show focuses too much on audience entertainment, rather than finding the perfect actress for the role.

He told The Times:"What these reality programmes more or less rely on is the viewing public being witness to distress. That is absolutely not how casting proceeds in the theatre."

Nunn was involved in the early planning stages of the upcoming version of The Sound Of Music, but left the team due to the TV programme: "It was not a route I wanted to follow," he added.