Is Gary Barlow trying to take over the West End?

I love the fact that there will another musical theatre talent show. Yes, it will be another jukebox musical, but I'm very excited about having another show where we could potentially discover new stars. The other shows have introduced us to very talented people like Rachel Tucker, Sam Barks, Lee Mead, Ben Forster, Danielle Hope and more. It will be great to once again spend my Saturday evenings listening to talented people sing musical theatre songs

I doubt he will be taking over the West End in the sense of shows running at the same time. Finding Neverland COULD work out, and I hope it does, but they need to be smart with promo and theatre choice. No disrespect to him, but I honestly cant imagine The Girls running long at all. Whilst I admire that it is new and alot of people enjoyed it, I have a feeling The Calender Girls has been done to death in the theatre and with the film too, I do wonder where the audience will lie for it. This new Take That musical will probably come in a few years after The Girls and probably Neverland too.

In theory, he could have three shows running at the same time. 

The BBC article said it's a nationwide Take That which makes me think it'll be touring rather than West End.

He's also been working an a musical version of around the world in 80 for a while now. So that will probably be out soon as well

Isn't this new Take That musical rumoured to tour the UK anyway?

First sentence of the linked article: "Let it Shine, co-presented by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc, will search for a band to take part in a stage show featuring the music of Take That."

Haha! I feel so stupid now. Even more so because now I remember actually reading tht a few hours ago. Sorry, I've been up since 4 AM

Sorry, I missed that bit. Good news that he's definitely presenting it, though - and I like Mel, so all good.  It's certainly an improvement on Amanda Holden, who was the presenter of the last TV casting show (Superstar) - she's fine on a judging panel, but as a presenter, she really is poor.

Amanda Holden passing comment on the quality of musical theatre stars really is laughable.

If she appeared on such a program she wouldn't make it to the first round.

She may be a professional, but watching her on TV, she lacked the natural rapport with the studio audience and contestants/judging panel that Graham Norton had on the BBC shows.  I remember the truly cringeworthy moment when ALW kicked off at a contestant (Nathan) for something completely unrelated to the performance he'd just given - Graham would have stepped in to put a stop to it, either by diffusing the situation with humour or moving proceedings quickly on, but Amanda just stood there like a rabbit caught in headlights.  She seemed completely out of her depth.

To be fair, there was a lot wrong with Superstar, not just the choice of presenter.  The judging panel was an odd mix (I don't think Jason Donovan cracked a smile once during the whole thing, and ALW seemed to be in a permanent bad mood), the format of nightly shows meant that we didn't get a chance to get to know contestants, and they didn't get a chance to take on board the advice they were given by the judges because their next performances were the following night.  I much preferred the weekly shows, where we could get to know the contestants over the 9 weeks or so and watch their development as performers.

Getting back to Let It Shine - I wonder what the farewell song will be?  I'd go for a mash-up of Greatest Day (Not!) and Never Forget (You've Been Voted Off) !