Afternoon:
9°c
'You're too big to be Nancy' - what show producer said about hopeful Jodie
Updated 16:30pm on 30 May 2008
One 'I'd Do Anything finalist's chances are looking rather slim, after Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber revealed there are fears West End hopeful Jodie Prenger is 'too big' to play Nancy in a new production of Oliver!
Sir Andrew, who has been working with all three finalists on TV's I'd Do Anything, revealed producer Cameron Mackintosh was worried whether curvaceous Jodie could cope with the show's hectic schedule.
The remaining Nancys: Curvaceous Jodie Prenger (left) has been criticised by I'd Do Anything show producer Cameron MacKintosh for being 'too big'. Seen here with Nancy finalists Jessie Buckley and Samantha Barks
Lord Webber said: "Cameron thinks she is a bit too big and has more or less said so."
Jodie from Blackpool, is the bookies' favourite against Jessie Buckley, 18, and Samantha Barks, 17, in the final on Saturday evening.
But fortunately for Jodie it is the public and not Mackintosh who will decide which Nancy will be his leading lady.
However, Sir Andrew disagreed with his long-time collaborator, and he told The Mirror: 'Jodie could be anybody's idea of Nancy - I can see it absolutely.
'She has got a lovely voice and a super personality. She has experience as well.'
Jodie in Nancy mode: She previously lost eight and a half stone on reality show The Biggest Loser
Competition: Jodie is competing against teenage finalists Jessie Buckley, 18, and Samantha Barks, 17
Ironically, Jodie has her own weight loss website, and was previously known for winning weight loss show The Biggest Loser in 2006.
She started the show a size 26 and weighing 18st 2lbs. During the series, she lost over eight stone and a half stone in six months, slimming down to a size 10, before settling at a size 14/16.
She has said: 'I have battled weight all my life, never been thin, in fact i think the last time I weighed in at 9 stone, when I was nine years of age. I know exactly what women go through to lose weight and who ever said its easy, it's not.'
The live final is on Saturday at 6pm with the results show at 8.45pm on BBC1.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with 'I'd Do Anything' hopefuls Jessie, Jodie and Samantha after dinner at the Ivy restaurant in London
Reader views (6)
Tori is right - Nancy is a poor girl and poor people in Victorian times could not afford to eat as affluently as Jodie can. Jodie is good, but she isn't Nancy - not by a long shot and not just because of her weight. She absolutely terrifying when she sings, although she's got an amazing voice! Her eyes look like a madman's! Hardly heart-warming, sorry Jodie! And she's too well spoken for a cockney girl, and, (sorry!) she's quite old for a lead, at 28, in five years she won't be able to have main roles in the West End any more. If this wasn't a competition but simply an audition where Lord Lloyd Webber chose Nancy, she would never have got the part. She definitely isn't Nancy, she won't be as good as others might be.
Jessie is good and looks the part, but she sings with an Irish accent! Not a problem at all, but when she's supposed to be playing a cockney, it's a bit weird!
Samantha is probably the best of the three, can't believe she came third! She's a bit young at 17 & it would be a bit overwhelming for her but I'm sure she'd cope!
I'm sure she'll have a bright future, Jessie will too if she can manage to create different accents in her singing.
- Scarlett, Bournemouth, UK, 02/06/2008 17:48
Report abuse
I think this will be a farce - she is obviously not Nancy.
- Scrumpy, London, 02/06/2008 12:49
Report abuse
Jodie's a cert now that Rachel is out (after the performance of the series with 'Cabaret' - with the others looking on horrified!). Jessie isn't good enough and though Samantha is, she's not right for the part.
- Gareth James, London UK, 30/05/2008 15:58
Report abuse
Personally, I don't think Jodie should have been allowed to compete in the first place. She had an unfair advantage, as she'd already won a reality show and therefore had a pre-made fan base. The rest of the contestants had to win over audiences at home over time.
Also, though I don't mind how big she is, isn't Nancy supposed to be poor? I don't think she'd be able to afford a lot of food, which Jodie clearly can. From a purely historical perspective, Jodie IS too big to be an ideal Nancy, no matter if she can sing or not. For me, it's Jessie all the way!
- Tori, Wokingham, UK, 30/05/2008 15:13
Report abuse
Cameron - you're not casting for a pole dancing club! Jodie is perfect for Nancy. Both Samantha and Jessie are too young and their voices aren't strong enough.
ALW is just obsessed with Jessie because she reminds him of Sarah Brightman, who also couldn't act.
I've never voted in this sort of thing before but might just do so now. UNLESS it's all a plot and they really want Jodie and are releasing this kind of story to make the public angry and vote for her......
Wouldn't put it past them one little bit.
- Kate, London, 30/05/2008 13:04
Report abuse
Cameron Mackintosh commenting on the lovely, wholesome Jodie being 'too big', he's not exactly missed many dinners has he??!!
Jodie is the only singer with any depth, as lovely as she is Jessie walks and dances like a man, and Samantha seems to rely on her amazing body and lovely legs to get her by. OK, OK she can sing - but not to the quality of Jodie.
I know who I will be voting for on Saturday ...... Am I taking this thing too serious do you think????
'Go Jodie, Go Jodie'
- Linda B, Lanarkshire Glasgow, 30/05/2008 12:22
Report abuse
