Grease Is the Word

This article is about the show. For the song with these words in the chorus, see Grease (song).
Grease Is The Word
Genre Reality
Created by Simon Cowell
Presented by Zoë Ball
Judges Brian Friedman
David Gest
David Ian
Sinitta
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 10
Production
Producer(s) Syco TV
Running time 60-90mins (inc. adverts)
Production company(s) Talkback Thames
Distributor FremantleMedia
Release
Original network ITV, STV, UTV
Picture format 16:9
Original release 7 April (2007-04-07) – 9 June 2007 (2007-06-09)
Chronology
Related shows Grease: You're the One that I Want!

Grease Is the Word was the United Kingdom version of NBC's Grease: You're the One that I Want!. It aired during 2007, and was produced by Syco TV (the production company of Simon Cowell).

The winning couple, Susan McFadden & Danny Bayne, went on to star in a new West End production of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre.

The judges were actor and theatre producer David Ian, concert promoter and media personality David Gest, former popstar and television personality Sinitta, and choreographer and former The X Factor judge Brian Friedman. The main ITV show was presented by Zoë Ball, and Holly Willoughby presented Greased Lightnin on ITV2. Greased Lightnin shows extra unseen auditions, behind the scenes gossip and exclusive interviews with the judges and contestants.

Cat Deeley was originally scheduled to present the show, but had to pull out at the last minute due to scheduling difficulties with her American shows. Simon Cowell was also supposed to be a judge on the show but could not as it was shown at the same time as American Idol where he was contracted to appear as a judge. He was still an executive producer.

Unlike the NBC series, the ITV programme was not based (at least directly) on the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? format, which is owned by the BBC.

Format

After the traditional auditions, the final sixteen were paired up. From show four onwards each couple had to sing a duet, based on a theme. The two couples who gained the least votes, each week, had to sing again, this time a 'Grease' classic. The judges then eliminated one of those two couples.

After three couples had been eliminated, the judges changed the couples, eliminating again one of the two lowest vote getting couples.

The following two weeks, were the Danny and Sandy semi-finals, respectively, with the singers competing as soloists, with the judges eliminating the first and the viewers the second victim of the nights. The final consisted with the final two Dannys and Sandys, with the public voting which two should win the roles.

Original couples

Tom & Kate
Richard & Joanna
Wayne & Hayley
Bradley & Michelle
Danny R & Lauren
Danny B & Susan
Anthony & Allison
Michael & Vicky

Finalists

Couple/Act Date of Elimination/Winning Decided by
Susan McFadden (24) WINNER Viewers
Danny Bayne (19) WINNER Viewers
Anthony Kavanagh (a.k.a. Kavana) (29) 9 June Viewers
Michelle Antrobus (24) 9 June Viewers
Vicky Hoyles (22) 2 June Viewers
Alison Crawford (25) 2 June Judges
Michael Quinn (24) 26 May Viewers
Danny Rhodes (22) 26 May Judges
Bradley Clarkson (25) & Lauren McConnell (16) 19 May Viewers
Wayne Smith (26) & Hayley Clarke (18) 12 May Viewers
Richard Morgan (20) & Joanna Power (22) 5 May Viewers
Tom Bradley (19) & Kate Somerset-How (23) 28 April Viewers

Press revelations

On Saturday 7 April 2007, the first day of the shows airing, The Sun newspaper revealed that 1990s popstar Kavana had reached the live final stage.[1]

On 22 April 2007 it was announced that Hayley, one of the final 16, is the daughter of the actor, Michael Starke who starred as Sinbad in Brookside and also appeared in Coronation Street.[2]

Susan is also the younger sister of former Westlife member and current solo artist Brian McFadden.

Reception

Ratings

Programme Episode UK Air Date Timeslot Viewers (millions)[3] Weekly Rank
1 ?? 7 April 2007 18:05 4.13 20
2 ?? 14 April 2007 18:40 4.47 20
3 ?? 21 April 2007 19:30 4.48 19
4 ?? 28 April 2007 19:30 3.87 21
5 ?? 5 May 2007 19:45 4.15 20
6 ?? 12 May 2007 19:50 4.66 21
7 ?? 19 May 2007 20:00 4.50 20
8 ?? 26 May 2007 19:55 3.96 19
9 ?? 2 June 2007 19:55 4.16 20
10 ?? 9 June 2007 19:55 4.31 15

Controversy

David Ian gathered the finalists at the Picadilly Theatre in London's West End to tell them that the judges "hadn't got it right with the pairs." [4]

On the fourth live show, David Ian announced live on the programme that from week five, the finalists would no longer be partnered up. The Danny hopefuls would compete against each other, live on week five's show, and the Sandy's on week six of the show. Each of the Danny and Sandy specials eliminated 2 of the 4 hopefuls thus leaving only 4 finalists for the final vote on 9 June.[5]

References

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