BBC to solve more problems like 'Maria'

Following the success of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, the BBC is planning to produce further talent shows to find the leads for new productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Grease.

Maria attracted an average audience of over six million viewers and saw Connie Fisher securing the lead in The Sound of Music in the West End.

Reports suggest that a Joseph version is planned for next year, with Grease lined up for 2008.

The BBC is believed to be keen to involve Andrew Lloyd Webber again, and the composer of Joseph has previously gone on record to say he would like to produce a new version of the musical, with the possibility of casting more roles from the talent show.

However Webber told The Stage at the Sound of Music premiere last night that he had a number of offers from both the BBC and ITV, as well as in the US and was unsure about his plans.

A Grease spin-off of the format, called You’re the One That We Want is currently being produced in the US, to find leads for a new Broadway production. Lloyd Webber has agreed to appear in three episodes of the programme according to The Stage.