Denise Van Outen Talks Being Dropped From 'Over The Rainbow'

Denise Van Outen, who was originally scheduled to be a part of the judging panel for Andrew Lloyd Webber's BBC show 'Over The Rainbow', but was reportedly dropped for being pregnant and replaced with Charlotte Church, sits down with Lydia Slater of The Daily Mail to discuss her disappointment of being let go of the project.

Of being let go from the show, Van Outen says, "I am disappointed not to be a part of it...It's a show that I'm passionate about and, after all, it's through the show that I met my husband and I'm becoming a mum."

Van Outen addresses the press reports that reported she was never originally confirmed for the show. "There was some press saying I was never involved in the show, yet in the last talk I had with anyone, my name was in the frame. But clearly plans changed."

Van Outen also says she found out she was no longer involved in the project via the press. "I only discovered I wasn't doing it through the press." When the BBC offered her a smaller role within the show, Van Outen refused. "It wasn't the right thing for me to do."

To read the rest of the story in the Daily Mail, click here.

Following the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything, Over The Rainbow reunites host Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, along with a brand new panel of experts (Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge) and BBC One viewers, will choose a Dorothy to perform in the West End production of The Wizard Of Oz next year. The show transmits with a weekend special on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 March, then the live studio shows start on Saturday 3 April (time tbc).

Viewers will see thousands of hopefuls turning up at open auditions across the country in Friday night's show, in a bid to become the newest star of the West End.

As the selection process continues, Saturday's show will showcase the final 20 "Dorothys" in a studio-based "sing-off"' - judged by the panel and Andrew, who will make a selection down to 10 girls.

In a surprise "wild card" element of the show, after the panel - led by Andrew Lloyd Webber - has agreed upon the 10 finalists, viewers will be invited to vote to save one of the girls who doesn't get through the panels' vote, to return next week.

Telephone lines will open for a set amount of time after these 10 girls have all performed a sing-off song and the contestant with the most votes will be revealed the following week, in the first live show to air on 3 April.

Viewers will find out the results of the "wild card" vote, and the 10 Dorothys will perform for their chance to stay in the competition and be critiqued by the panel and Andrew.

Viewers have the opportunity to cast their votes and the outcome will be announced in the results show. The two contestants with the least amount of votes will perform a "sing-off" and Andrew Lloyd Webber will decide which contestant he wants to remain in the competition.

Andrew Lloyd Webber commented: "I would like to bring something new to The Wizard Of Oz. I'm searching for a modern Dorothy, who can take the role much further, and continue to appeal to a wide audience.

"The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show in addition to the much-loved originals from the movie. Over The Rainbow is of course one of the greatest songs ever written."

Andrew Lloyd Webber is also searching for a Toto, for a one-off gala performance of The Wizard Of Oz, when it hits the West End stage next year.

Jodie Prenger (winner of 2008's I'd Do Anything and soon to play Lady Of The Lake in Spamalot on tour) will lead the search for Toto in April, at two open audition days. Viewers will be able to follow the dogs' progress across the series, as they do their best to charm dedicated cat man, Andrew Lloyd Webber!