The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals returns for its fifth year, featuring live performances from top West End productions. Comedian Jason Manford hosts the event once again, broadcast live from Manchester’s AO Arena to a packed audience.
Broadcast Details
The show airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, March 28, at 7:45 p.m., with BBC One Scotland airing it at 10:30 p.m. This celebration highlights over £1.4 billion in funding awarded to more than 29,000 theatre projects across the UK in the past 31 years.
Star-Studded Performances
Fans can enjoy numbers from iconic shows including The Lion King with full cast members Thenjiwe Nofemele as Rafiki and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Simba, Oliver! The Musical starring Ava Brennan as Nancy, and The Producers featuring Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin.
Other highlights feature Annie with Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix as Miss Hannigan, Sunny Afternoon with its touring cast, and Miss Saigon with full cast.
A Disney medley honors composer Alan Menken, starring Trevor Dion Nicholas, Mae Ann Jorolan, and Lucie Jones. Additional treats include Paddington The Musical with Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Millicent Clyde, Jesus Christ Superstar boasting a world exclusive from Sam Ryder as Jesus Christ, The Choir of Man with the Infant Hercules Choir and Jason Manford, Wicked starring Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen, and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical led by Alexandra Burke as Chaka Khan.
Insights from Stars
Host Jason Manford shares his excitement: “It’s just a real honour to be part of it, and to watch all the moving parts and see everything going on backstage, as well as what’s happening on stage. To see all the hard work turned into applause and standing ovations is magical. I’m there to keep it going really, to connect everything together and compere it. The real talent is in the orchestra and the performers on stage, and I just love being a part of it.”
He adds on the event’s appeal: “Well it’s a way of escaping what’s going on in life, isn’t it? It’s the thing that makes us human, to be joyous and celebratory and to tell stories and to sing and dance, and no one else, no other species are doing it. So I think for us, it’s important.”
La Voix previews her role in Annie: “I’ve always been so much of an upbeat, positive, comedy character. But I think it’s going to be quite nice to just find the bitterness and the meanness in every step on that stage. I’m going to really enjoy just being mean, although I don’t quite know how I’m going find that.”
Sam Ryder, UK’s Eurovision runner-up, recommends must-sees: “Paddington and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical. I love being around good singers, because it makes you want to up your game. It’s all about tone for me as well. If someone’s got that tone, it’s not always about the riffs and runs. That’s what I like musical theatre for because you focus more on the story and the emotion. That really is the heart and soul of singing. I love being around all of this and I’m enjoying every single minute.”
