No public vote in 'I'd Do Anything'

Viewers will not be able to vote for their favourite Oliver Twist in I'd Do Anything, the BBC has said.

Andrew Lloyd Webber will instead get to decide which of the young boys competing takes the lead role in a West End production of Oliver!

The BBC One reality series follows similar shows in which members of the public picked stars for The Sound of Music and Joseph.

However, host Graham Norton said a public vote would be unfair on competing Olivers. He said: "Those little boys are tough as old boots but, to see them on television, they just look very vulnerable. To have a little boy sobbing would be quite upsetting."

Viewers will still be able to vote for an actress to play Nancy in the series which begins on Saturday. The contenders for that role will be over 17.

A BBC spokeswoman confirmed: "As Oliver is played by a minor, his role will not be open to the public vote. This decision was taken by the BBC following expert advice in providing a duty of care to child contributors.

"We want all the boys to gain as much from this experience as possible, and enable them to learn as much about musical theatre as they can over the course of the series."