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Presented by Ed Balls. No leotard. No Gangnam Style. Just an evening of glorious music from the world of musical theatre illustrated by casts and stars of the West End stage.

Ed Balls, former Shadow Chancellor and Strictly contestant – presents a concert devoted to his favourite passion – musicals.

The Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra is conducted by Richard Balcombe and Ed is joined by musical theatre's finest: Sophie Louise Dann, Ria Jones, Danny Mac, Rachel Tucker and Michael Xavier.

There will also be performances from cast members hot-footing from their theatre shows to perform a song or two. Moya Angela from Dreamgirls performs And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going; Disney’s Aladdin star Matthew Croke performs Proud of Your Boy by Alan Menken; and the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Matilda the Musical line up to perform the delightful When I Grow Up .

Ria Jones and Danny Mac recreate their roles as Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis from the UK tour of Sunset Boulevard (Lloyd Webber); Rachel Tucker dons the green face paint for Defying Gravity from Wicked and Sophie-Louise Dann dons the twin set and pearls to portray Labour legend Barbara Castle from the David Arnold musical Made in Dagenham.

The concert also includes music from Gypsy, Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, Company, My Fair Lady, and Ed’s all-time favourite The Sound of Music.

And if you think the Ed’s love of musicals is just his guilty pleasure during the interval he takes a look at how the world of musicals and politics often collide - with examples from Hamilton, Evita, Stephen Ward, Iolanthe and Annie.

First broadcast in 2018.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 May 2021 19:00

Music Played

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Gypsy: Overture

  • Michael Xavier & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Les Misérables: Bring Him Home

  • Cast of Matilda the Musical & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Matilda: When I Grow Up

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Jesus Christ Superstar

  • Danny Mac & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Sunset Boulevard

  • Ria Jones & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye

  • Rachel Tucker & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Wicked: Defying Gravity

  • MOYA & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Dreamgirls: And I Am Telling You

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Carousel: The Carousel Waltz

  • Original London Company Of Les Miserables

    Do You Hear The People Sing

    • Les Miserables: The Original 1985 London Cast Recording.
    • Exallshow.
    • 17.
  • Original Company of Billy Elliot

    Once We Were Kings

    • Billy Elliot: Original Cast Recording.
    • Polydor Records.
    • 13.
  • Jonathan Groff

    You'll Be Back

    • Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording CD 1 (PG Advisory).
    • Atlantic.
    • 7.
  • Idina Menzel

    Defying Gravity

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.
    • 11.
  • The Original Come From Away Company

    Welcome To The Rock

    • Come From Away.
    • The Musical Company.
    • 1.
  • Jenn Colella & Company of Come From Away

    38 Planes (Reprise) / Somewhere In The Middle Of Nowhere

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    The Producers: Overture

  • Sophie-Louise Dann & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Made in Dagenham: Ideal World

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Sweet Charity: Overture

  • Matthew Croke & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Aladdin: Proud Of Your Boy

  • Rachel Tucker & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Company: Being Alive

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    My Fair Lady: Selection

  • Danny Mac & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    Guys And Dolls: Luck Be A Lady

  • Rachel Tucker, Michael Xavier, Sophie-Louise Dann & Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    The Sound Of Music: Medley

  • Â鶹Éç Concert Orchestra

    High Adventure (Friday Night Is Music Night Sig Tune)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 23 Nov 2018 20:00
  • Fri 2 Aug 2019 20:00
  • Sun 9 May 2021 19:00