Spacey fumes at 'unfair' BBC musical talent shows

(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Kevin Spacey has criticised BBC talent shows for unfairly promoting West End musicals at the expense of other productions.

The Hollywood star and artistic director of the Old Vic theatre criticised the BBC for programmes including the new series I'd Do Anything, a hunt for a new Nancy and Oliver Twist to star in the forthcoming West End revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!

Instead of giving free publicity to such musicals, Spacey called on the BBC to bring back Play for Today, the television series that gave rise to such classics as Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party and Ken Loach's Cathy Come Home.

I'd Do Anything follows on from Any Dream Will Do, which was a search for the lead in the new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? in which contestants vied to star as Maria in The Sound of Music.

Both musicals are produced by the Really Useful Group, owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, who has been a judge on all three series. Oliver! is a Cameron Mackintosh production, but is due to be staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, owned by the Really Useful Group.

Spacey said of the shows: "I felt that was essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical ... where's our 13-week programme? When are they going to do one about a play?" He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "I've spoken to your chairman and he's yet to get back to me about it. You're not a commercial operation and I thought it was crossing the line unfairly ... I think it's unbalanced."

He suggested that the BBC should commission a series about theatre "to help kids find their own sense of self-esteem, confidence and ability to collaborate".

The BBC defended the Saturday night series, saying: "The show is about finding new talent and in order for this challenge to have true credibility with the voting audience, the role has to be a real one.

"The BBC doesn't have any commercial interest in the subsequent West End production or any spin-offs."