Critics pan 'Grease' stage debut

The winners of ITV's Grease Is The Word have disappointed critics with their first performance of the new West End production.

Susan McFadden and Danny Bayne won their roles as Sandy and Danny in a public vote in June. On Wednesday they made their first public appearance at London's Piccadilly Theatre.

Sarah Crompton, for the Daily Telegraph, thought Bayne "made Travolta look like Olivier". She added: "Whatever qualities made people vote for them shrivel and fade in the spotlight's harsh glare."

And The Guardian's Michael Billington wrote McFadden "sings prettily, but has a painfully limited range of physical expression".

Sam Marlowe, in The Times, labelled the production "disappointingly short on dazzle". He commented: "At no point do we care one iota what becomes of any of them or their teen romances."

However, Sinitta, a former singer and judge on the show, said she was impressed with the pair: "Eight or ten weeks ago they were amateurs. I was so proud tonight."

And fans sang their praises to the BBC. One said: "When they sing, you just get shivers down your spine."