Now that's some enchanted evening! Desperate for a dose of musical theatre? Then All Star Musicals - in which unlikely celebrities compete singing classic show tunes - is for you, says judge Elaine Paige

• Celebrities are set to compete on All Star Musicals hosted by John Barrowman
• Elaine Paige revealed line up includes songs from Moulin Rouge and Chicago
• West End legend who has been mentoring contestants, is also on judging panel

Musical theatre fans rejoice! You may have been deprived of your fix for the best part of a year, but before the auditoriums reopen ITV’s All Star Musicals is back to give you a taste of what you’ve been missing. 

Hosted by John Barrowman, the singing contest will see six celebrities belting out their favourite show tunes in a one-off extravaganza tomorrow night. 

They’ll perform in front of a judging panel headed by West End legend Elaine Paige as well as a virtual audience, and their combined scores will then produce the winner.

‘I’m absolutely thrilled,’ says Elaine. ‘The show was a huge hit in 2019, and after the year we’ve just been through we need it even more now. With theatres still closed we’re all looking for a slice of escapism, and I’m sure it will lift everyone’s sprits.’

This time round the contestants are Barney (son of Bradley) Walsh, actress Jessica Hynes, TV doctor Ranj Singh, ex-EastEnder Luisa Bradshaw-White, TV judge Robert Rinder and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, ITV News political editor Robert Peston. 

Elaine has been mentoring them in advance of the big night, and although she can’t divulge which songs they’ll be singing she can give us a clue. 

‘I can tell you there are numbers from shows like Half A Sixpence, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! and Guys And Dolls. And I can also tell you it takes guts for these people to do this. They’re all out of their comfort zone.’

In 2019 Daniel Brocklebank, vicar Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street, was the worthy winner. ‘In fact, he was so good I could see him in a West End musical,’ says Elaine, who was also impressed by Alan Titchmarsh. 

‘The audience loved Alan. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. He sang Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, a song his father used to sing to his mother. It was incredibly moving. He’s a gardener for goodness’ sake! Who knew he could sing like that?’

Elaine says her role as mentor gives her real pleasure.

‘I’ve been in this business for over 50 years, and it’s easy sometimes to forget how much you know. In All Star Musicals it’s about giving the contestants confidence to tell a story through song.’

Alongside her on the panel will be Samantha Barks, best known as Eponine in the Les Misérables film, a role that may be eclipsed when she stars as Elsa in the West End production of Frozen in the autumn. 

And reprising his judging role from 2019 will be West End star Trevor Dion Nicholas, famous for playing the Genie in the stage version of Aladdin.

The three judges, along with John, will open the show with a performance of You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray, itself due for a stage revival this summer starring Michael Ball and Paul Merton. ‘If ever a message was in a song, this is it,’ says Elaine.

No one knows the power of live performance better than her. Just before Christmas she was one of the stars of Pantoland at the London Palladium, alongside Julian Clary, Nigel Havers and Beverley Knight. 

‘We only managed six performances before the lockdown drawbridge was hauled up again, but I’ve never seen a reaction like it in my life. 

'On the opening night Prince William and Kate brought their children and it was magical, so emotional. By the last show we were getting ovations for nine minutes. It was almost embarrassing.’

It also helps to explain the recent success of a special edition of her Elaine Paige On Sunday programme on Radio 2, which featured classic show tunes and asked listeners to vote for their favourite.

The top three were One Day More and Bring Him Home, both from Les Mis, and Defying Gravity from Wicked. Which would Elaine have chosen? ‘Summertime from Porgy And Bess is one of my all-time favourite songs from a musical. I’ve sung it in concert myself.

‘I’d also pick Some Enchanted Evening as Alan Titchmarsh did, it’s so heartfelt. My third would be One Hand, One Heart, sung by Maria and Tony in West Side Story. 

I first heard it at school when a girl called Joy brought the album in, then I went to see the film. It’s a beautiful song – clearly I’m an old romantic.’

Elaine has always maintained she’s an actress who sings, rather than the other way around. ‘But looking back over my career, I’m not sure I can say that any more,’ she admits. Even so, she likes to keep her hand in when it comes to acting. 

She was particularly pleased to have been cast as Peter Davison’s mistress in last year’s hit BBC series Life, written by Doctor Foster creator Mike Bartlett. 

This takes guts. They’re out of their comfort zone 

‘I thought Peter was wonderful, despite playing a pretty disagreeable character,’ she says.

She’s hoping there’ll be a second series of Life, but due to the pandemic she has nothing else in the pipeline. How has she dealt with the lockdowns?

‘Better than I thought. I’ve discovered I quite like my own company, though I’ve had my radio show every week which has kept me sane.

‘I’ve enjoyed the less pressured way of life. I’ve acquired new computer skills, I paint and I’ve learnt some nice recipes. 

'I’ve watched a lot of TV too – Marcella, Ozark, Schitt’s Creek and The Queen’s Gambit, which brought back lovely memories of being in the musical Chess. I emailed Tim Rice and told him it ought to be the prequel to the show.’

She’s hoping to get back into the recording studio soon and do a few one-off concerts. ‘It would be good to connect with a live audience again,’ she says. 

‘In the meantime I’d love a holiday, a change of scenery and a bit of sunshine please. Still, I mustn’t complain. I do have All Star Musicals to look forward to.’

Does she have an idea of who she thinks might win? ‘As a matter of fact I do.’ And will she tell me? ‘What do you think!’  

All Star Musicals, tomorrow, 6.30pm, ITV.