Mr Grant Lands In Oz

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 8:48am

Russell Grant won a legion of fans with his brave, if inept, performances on the TV show 'Strictly Come Dancing' and that was what persuaded Andrew Lloyd Webber to ask him if he would take over from Michael Crawford as he completed a year in the role of the Wizard.

He initially declined.
"My big concern, the worry was that I would be shoehorned into a Wizard that was Michael Crawford's Wizard and you cannot be like someone who is unique, someone who is so innovative," he said.

"Why would you want to do that? To follow in the footsteps of Michael Crawford is daunting because he's a legend. But Andrew convinced me."

The composer, who had already written new numbers for the production, created more elements specially for Grant including adding Charleston and samba moves to the number Welcome to the Land of Oz.
"So I'm using my new-found skills," Grant said.

The breakfast TV star, who was an actor early in his career, last appeared in a big West End show 34 years ago in the company of 'Hans Christian Anderson' with Tommy Steele at the Palladium.

He said he would never have had his chance as the leading man without the television talent show. "I owe it all to Strictly and I owe it all to the BBC. I wouldn't be here without that'.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 9:03am

Not 'The Wonders of the World' more of a bus crash in one of those sixties concrete council flats.