Us Brits have a fascination with money and how much the other person earns, so each year when the Times Rich List is published we all rub our hands and start thinking about the lucky so and so who’s sitting at the top of this list waving down at us “normal folk”.
One things for sure, we all now know that musical theatre is an absolute gold mine, oh yes sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has climbed the branches of this wealthy tree and is sitting comfortably on a huge nest egg. Webber has an estimated wealth of £750m and is the 101st richest person Britain, I know what you’re thinking, bad luck you didn’t get into the 100 richest people in Britain - no…not what your thinking? Of course not, any normal person would probably be swearing right now and saying “what, that crazy old kook from I’d Do Anything is that wealthy” - and the answer is yes, exceedingly!
Webber is actually richer than the Queen, she comes in at a reasonable 264th place and has an estimated wealth of £320m. Imagine that, being richer than the Queen! Webber’s theatrical partner Cameron Mackintosh also made it onto the list in 184th place and at an estimated wealth of £450m.
So with the upcoming production of Oliver! and the ongoing success of the television production “I’d Do Anything” - I’m sure that both Webber and Mackintosh are donning some durable trainers and preparing to climb that money tree to new heights!
Andrew Lloyd Webber isn’t all about gliz, glam and theatrics - he’s chosen to dumb down his birthday celebrations and opted for a knees up in Majorca!
Reportedly he was to spend £5 million on West End bash for his 60th birthday, however this is complete codswallop made up by The Daily Mail. Poor old Webber and his wife had to issue a statement in order to set the record straight, it states “The couple are hosting a low-key event in Majorca this weekend. Around 35 to 40 close friends and colleagues have been invited to attend a dinner at a restaurant in Deia, near to the Lloyd Webber’s home on the island. A local rock band has been hired to entertain the guests and not the star-studded, musical-themed entertainment some reports have suggested.”
Ok you may be thinking oooh sunny Majorca and a fancy dinner how lavish, BUT if you think about it - it is very normal and low key for someone of his celebrity status. So we say well done Mr Webber for proving that you don’t have to splurge to have a good time and that celebrities are human afterall!
After sneakly listening to radio one at work I managed to catch the John Barrowman interview on Jo Whiley’s afternoon slot, he loves to dish the dirt and I thought I may catch a few gossipy stories. Guess what gossip fans, he did drop a few cheeky tales but most importantly he gave away the fact that he is a judge on the upcoming show “I’d Do Anything” - Webber’s third TV theatre star search (for Oliver and Nancy). Barrowman also let slip that Denise Van Outen will be joining him as judge too.
The Torchwood star also confessed to hearing about Sir Lloyd Webber’s hissy fits and reckons he is slightly mad - but that makes him interesting to watch! Not only does the tantrum throwing mad man provide us with great entertainment - Barrowman claims Webber also throws an impressive party in his Irish Castle (in which Zoe Tyler and Barrowman often partake in a bit of skinny dipping - ooh er).
Unfortunately he didn’t give much away about Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead, but he did say they used to have a good old perv on the Joseph guys and he could see the chemistry between them. Barrowman claims he still stays in touch with some of the Joseph guys and acts a mentor to them, he recently said in an interview he keeps in touch with Keith Jack (the runner up in Any Dream Will Do) and advised him on his upcoming Flashdance audition! So there is another piece of gossip for you - Flashdance will be the next big musical and Keith Jack might be in it!
So John Barrowman fans you can look forward to seeing him back on our screens March/April time in “I’d Do Anything” on BBC.
Ladies get ready to be excited, a new pop group has been formed from five of the finalists from BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.
Theatre Producer Bill Kenwright has launched the band known as Dream On, members include Lewis Bradley, Craig Chalmers, Chris Barton, Antony Hansen and Chris Crosby. The release of their first album (also called Dream On) will commence next week and the boys will be holding a special promotional concert at the London Palladium on Sunday 17th February.
The Dream On boys will be singing a mix of musicals, original tracks and pop classics on their album. So if you like the Joseph boys, get buying the album - if the debut release does well a tour and a follow up album will be created!
Stuck for a half term activity? Well look no further than a London Theatre Break, it’s the perfect mini getaway for all the family.
Show and Stay have a range of shows to suit everyone, if you want action and adventure why not book to see Lord of the Rings - a powerful tale of good verses evil. If you loved the Wizard of Oz, then book the sensational Wicked and see how the good witch of the north and the wicked witch of the west came to be.
Family favorites Grease and Joseph are ideal for a half term theatre break, watch Susan McFadden, Danny Bayne and Lee Mead live on stage in the West End. The Sound of Music, Hairspray and The Lion King are just some more examples of great shows which will have your family smiling all half term.
Why not team your theatre break with a London Attraction, from as little as £12.50 per person you could be visiting celebrity wax works in Madame Tussauds or soaring above the clouds on the iconic London Eye.
If you book a family theatre break before the 14th March 2008 you will get one nights stay in a top London hotel for FREE - that’s right absolutely nothing! So get your skates on and book your family on a Show and Stay theatre break this half term.
The guy we like to call the “King of Theatre”, Andrew Lloyd Webber, turns the grand old age of 60 this year. Will he be donning a paper party hat and nipping down to the local Spar to pick up a victoria sponge for his guests? I think not, good old Webber is going to party hard on a 60th birthday tour across the UK - how very rock and roll! P-diddy would be impressed by Webber’s partying skills as no other celeb has had a celebratory tour for their birthday - Paris Hilton must be pulling at her dad’s jumper as we speak.
All of Webber’s reality TV superstars simply must be involved in his birthday tour - Connie Fisher has already let slip that she’ll be making an appearance. Ladies you’ll just have to wait and see if the Joseph boys will jump on the Webber birthday bandwagon!
So start shopping for your party frock as this is one birthday you wont want to miss.
Us girls at Show and Stay office had our suspicions about Lee Mead and Denise Van Outen from the moment she kissed his picture during his first audition for Any Dream Will Do. Well after all that chemistry and tension, Denise and Lee are finally together and have been secretly seeing each other for weeks! The pair have both been in West End shows recently and both been spotted watching adoringly from the audience and showering each other with congratulatory presents.
Denise claims she still sees most of the Joseph boys as they are currently starring in various West End productions, most recently she saw Lewis Bradley - who split his pants doing a fame jump at her New Year’s Eve party!
So Joseph fans when you book to see Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat you may just be sat next to Denise Van Outen, so be careful not to drool too much over her boyfriend in a loin cloth!
Stuck for gift ideas? Well look no further than Show and Stay! Whether you want to treat a loved one or just fancy treating yourself, we have THE Christmas gift package to suit any stocking.
Step one: choose a show
From the shining colours of Joseph’s coat to the wild plains of Africa in the Lion King, we have all the TOP West End shows for you to choose from. Dads, mums, daughters and sons - we have something for everyone.
Step two: choose your hotel and pre-theatre dinner.
We have a delightful range of two star to five star hotels in London and a mouthwatering selection of pre-theatre restaurants to sample.
Step Three: Adding an attraction.
Whether you want to see iconic London attractions or get in the festive spirit we have something for you. As Christmas is nearly upon us we have a great selection of festive attractions to add on to your package, including ice skating at the Tower of London and festive fun at Winter Wonderland Hyde Park.
Christmas in London is simply magical and chock-a-block with festive attractions, from Spitalfields Winter Festival to Trafalgar Square Tree Lighting - check out our Christmas events in London page for more information on these activities.
Good old Denise has never really been able to keep her opinions to herself, this time she attacked ITV and more specifically Grease Is The Word.
Denise believes that ITV were more interested in ratings than “nurturing talent” for the West End and that they did not provide appropriate care for unsuccessful contestants.
Fair enough Grease is the Word had a few minor (when I say minor I mean MINOR) celebrities in the competition but I don’t think that is worthy of the ‘nurturing talent’ comment. Yes compared to Any Dream Will Do, Grease Is The Word did look very cheesy, tacky and geared for ratings - BUT they are both reality TV talent shows, if one choses to play on it’s genre to get ratings so be it. After all it’s the people at home who are going to go and watch the musical so why not grab as many fans as you can, besides I think everyone deserves a fair crack at the whip, Z-list celebrity or not!
As for the ‘care comment’ - who knows, I do hope that all unsuccessful contestants have some sort of support - from ITV, family or friends
One has to wonder though, Denise is now staring in RENT at the Duke OF Yorks Theatre and may be appearing as a judge in Webber’s possible new talent show to find the lead for “My Fair Lady” - PUBLICITY… ANYONE?
The People’s Choice award winners Lee Mead and Connie Fisher will duet this Christmas on a BBC1 Xmas special, descibed by the BBC as entertainment extravaganza - it’s certainly one to watch this festive holiday
Aired on Christmas day this 60 minute special will include an interview with the theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber and festive songs from the talented Denise Van Outen and John Barrowman.
Mead and Fisher’s duet is expected to form the centrepiece of the show, however the reality TV winners will also be reunited with some of the other finalists such as Lewis Bradley and Aoife Mulholland.
Fans of “Any Dream Will Do” and “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria” will absolutely love this christmas special, don’t miss your chance to see your favorite theatre stars singing festive classics this holiday.
