From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Superstar (British TV series)
British reality talent search series
British reality talent search series
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | SuperstarITV.jpg |
| image_size | 250 |
| genre | Reality |
| creator | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| presenter | Amanda Holden |
| judges | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| Melanie C | |
| Jason Donovan | |
| Dawn French | |
| David Grindrod | |
| composer | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| country | United Kingdom |
| language | English |
| num_series | 1 |
| num_episodes | 12 |
| executive_producer | Peter Davey |
| location | Various cities (auditions) |
| Osea Island (Superstar Island) | |
| The Fountain Studios (live shows) | |
| runtime | 60–90 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| company | ITV Studios |
| channel | ITV |
| first_aired | |
| last_aired | |
| related | How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? (2006) |
| Any Dream Will Do (2007) | |
| I'd Do Anything (2008) | |
| Over the Rainbow (2010) |
Melanie C Jason Donovan Dawn French David Grindrod Osea Island (Superstar Island) The Fountain Studios (live shows) Any Dream Will Do (2007) I'd Do Anything (2008) Over the Rainbow (2010)
Superstar is a British talent search series, looking for the lead role in a production of the 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. The series started on 7 July 2012 on ITV and was presented by Amanda Holden.
In the final, on 25 July 2012, 31-year-old Ben Forster was chosen as Jesus to perform the role in the UK arena tour starting in September 2012. 24-year-old Rory Taylor came in second place.
The Team
The series was presented by Amanda Holden. The Panel consisted of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jason Donovan, Dawn French and Melanie C. David Grindrod and Will Burton led the casting team, with Yvie Burnett serving as the vocal coach.
Format
Nationwide auditions
The Nationwide auditions began in March 2012 visiting London, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff. The judges are Andrew Lloyd Webber, Melanie C, Jason Donovan and David Grindrod. Host Amanda Holden was on hand for the auditionees.
Grindrod judged the nationwide auditions and was joined by Donovan and Melanie C at the 'Callback' round held at the O2 Academy in Brixton, London. Over 100 contestants were invited to the 'Callback' round in London. Lloyd Webber watched all the performances from a balcony at the side of the stage.
Superstar Island
The final 41 contestants are invited to 'Superstar Island' (Osea Island in Essex) for a week of training. Jonathan Ansell is a notable contestant who failed to pass this stage of the show.
Final rounds
The final 30 contestants were invited to Lloyd Webber's villa in Majorca. After 10 were eliminated on arrival, the remaining contestants performed again in front of Lloyd Webber.
The next day, the contestants travelled back to Great Britain via coach (with the journey taking 25 hours) and performed a final time in front of the panel, with an accompanying band onstage, for a place in the live shows.
Live shows
The Live show stages of the search were judged by Melanie C, Jason Donovan, Dawn French and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The live shows were broadcast live from Fountain Studios in Wembley and took place over nine nights (excluding Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July). The final was held on 25 July 2012.
The contestants perform on the first live show with the results of the public vote announced during the following night's show. The two contestants with the lowest votes competed in the Sing-Off to stay in the competition. After the performance, Lloyd Webber then decided which potential Jesus to keep in the contest. The saved Jesuses could be seen on the "Stairway to Heaven". The eliminated Jesus(es) then "walks into the light" and leaves the stage.
Finalists
| Finalist | Age* | From | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afnan Iftikhar | 23 | North Shields | Eliminated 1st on Night 1 |
| Dirk Johnson | 24 | Scotland | Eliminated 2nd on Night 2 |
| Tim Prottey-Jones | 32 | Birmingham | Eliminated 3rd on Night 4 |
| Niall Sheehy | 31 | County Wicklow | Eliminated 4th on Night 5 |
| Jon Moses | 37 | York | Eliminated 5th on Night 6 |
| Jeff Anderson | 21 | Belfast | Eliminated 6th on Night 6 |
| Nathan James | 23 | Reading | Eliminated 7th on Night 7 |
| David Hunter | 27 | Warrington | Eliminated 8th on Night 8 |
| Roger Wright | 41 | London | Eliminated 9th on Night 9 |
| Rory Taylor | 24 | Wirral | Runner-up |
| Ben Forster | 31 | Sunderland | Winner |
- at time of competition
Results summary
;Colour key
| – | Contestant who received the most public votes |
|---|
| Contestant | Night 1 | Night 2 | Night 3 | Night 5 | Night 6 | Night 7 | Night 8 | Final | Night 3 | Night 4 | Ben Forster | Rory Taylor | Roger Wright | David Hunter | Nathan James | Jeff Anderson | Jon Moses | Niall Sheehy | Tim Prottey-Jones | Dirk Johnson | Afnan Iftikhar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner | |||||||||||||
| (night 9) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Runner-up | |||||||||||||
| (night 9) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom three | Bottom two | Safe | Eliminated | |||||||||||||
| (night 9) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated | |||||||||||||
| (night 8) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated | ||||||||||||||
| (night 7) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated | |||||||||||||||
| (night 6) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated | |||||||||||||||
| (night 6) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated | ||||||||||||||||
| (night 5) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Safe | Bottom two | Bottom two | Eliminated | Eliminated | |||||||||||||||||
| (night 4) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Bottom two | Eliminated | Eliminated | |||||||||||||||||||
| (night 2) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Eliminated | Eliminated | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (night 1) |
Live show details
Night 1 (15 July 2012)
- Group performance: "Superstar" (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result (Night 2) | David Hunter | Dirk Johnson | Nathan James | Ben Forster | Niall Sheehy | Tim Prottey-Jones | Roger Wright | Jon Moses | Afnan Iftikhar | Jeff Anderson | Rory Taylor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Forget You" (Cee Lo Green) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 2 | "Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan) | Bottom two | ||||||||||||
| 3 | "Sign Your Name" " (Terence Trent D'Arby) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 4 | "Somebody That I Used to Know" (Gotye) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 5 | "Stay" (Hurts) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 6 | "Stone Cold Sober" " (Paloma Faith) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 7 | "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Procol Harum) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 8 | "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 9 | "Next to Me" (Emeli Sande) | Bottom two | ||||||||||||
| 10 | "Red" (Daniel Merriweather) | Safe | ||||||||||||
| 11 | "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (Lenny Kravitz) | Safe |
- Sing-Off (Night 2)
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | Afnan Iftikhar | Dirk Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Memory" from Cats | Eliminated | |||
| Saved by Lloyd Webber |
Night 2 (16 July 2012)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result (Night 3) | Ben Forster | Tim Prottey-Jones | Rory Taylor | Nathan James | Roger Wright | Dirk Johnson | Jeff Anderson | Niall Sheehy | Jon Moses | David Hunter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "She Said" (Plan B) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 2 | "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (Cat Stevens) | Bottom two | |||||||||||
| 3 | "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (Kelly Clarkson) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 4 | "Dedication to My Ex" (Lloyd ft. André 3000 & Lil Wayne) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 5 | "Part of Me" (Katy Perry) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 6 | "Titanium" (Sia) | Bottom two | |||||||||||
| 7 | "Mr Brightside" (The Killers) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 8 | "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" (The Script) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 9 | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt) | Safe | |||||||||||
| 10 | "Nothing's Real But Love" (Rebecca Ferguson) | Safe |
- Sing-Off (Night 3)
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | Dirk Johnson | Tim Prottey-Jones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Hurt" | Eliminated | |||
| Saved by Lloyd Webber |
Night 3 (17 July 2012)
- Group performance: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (The Beatles)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result (Night 4) | Roger Wright | Nathan James | Rory Taylor | Jon Moses | David Hunter | Ben Forster | Tim Prottey-Jones | Jeff Anderson | Niall Sheehy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "More Than Words"( Extreme) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 2 | "To Be With You"( Mr. Big) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 3 | "Dakota"(Stereophonics) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 4 | "I Want To Know What Love Is"( Foreigner) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 5 | "You've Got The Love" ( The Source feat Candi Staton) | Bottom two | ||||||||||
| 6 | "Everybody Hurts"(R.E.M.) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 7 | "Time Is Running Out"(Muse) | Bottom two | ||||||||||
| 8 | "How You Remind Me"(Nickelback) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 9 | "Dirty Diana" (Michael Jackson) | Safe |
- Sing-Off (Night 4)
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | David Hunter | Tim Prottey-Jones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Long and Winding Road" | Saved by Lloyd Webber (Night 5) | |||
| Eliminated (Night 5) |
Before the performance, Lloyd Webber decided not to eliminate either of them until he had seen the solo performances they had prepared for the night. They both performed on Night 4 with the elimination at the end of the show.
Night 4 (18 July 2012)
- Group performance: "Viva la Vida" (Coldplay)
- Guest performance: "Ruby" (Kaiser Chiefs)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result (Night 5) | Niall Sheehy | Rory Taylor | David Hunter | Ben Forster | Jon Moses | Nathan James | Roger Wright | Tim Prottey-Jones | Jeff Anderson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "One" (U2) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 2 | "Roxanne" (The Police) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 3 | "One Day Like This" (Elbow) | Bottom two (Night 4) | ||||||||||
| 4 | "This Love" (Maroon 5) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 5 | "I Won't Let You Go" (James Morrison) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 6 | "How to Save a Life" (The Fray) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 7 | "Here I Go Again" (Whitesnake) | Safe | ||||||||||
| 8 | "Dream On" (Aerosmith) | Eliminated (Night 4) | ||||||||||
| 9 | "Kiss from a Rose" (Seal) | Safe |
Night 5 (19 July 2012)
- Group performance: "Livin' on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi)
- Guest performance: "Baby Come Home" (Scissor Sisters)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result | Jeff Anderson | David Hunter | Rory Taylor | Nathan James | Ben Forster | Niall Sheehy | Jon Moses | Roger Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones) | Safe | |||||||||
| 2 | "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinéad O'Connor) | Safe | |||||||||
| 3 | "Fix You" (Coldplay) | Bottom two | |||||||||
| 4 | "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) | Safe | |||||||||
| 5 | "Fast Car" (Tracy Chapman) | Safe | |||||||||
| 6 | "Wherever You Will Go" (The Calling) | Bottom two | |||||||||
| 7 | "Feel" (Robbie Williams) | Safe | |||||||||
| 8 | "Rolling in the Deep" (Adele) | Safe |
- Sing-Off:
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | Rory Taylor | Niall Sheehy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Alone" | Saved by Lloyd Webber | |||
| Eliminated |
Night 6 (20 July 2012)
- Group performance: "Pinball Wizard" (The Who)
- Guest performance: "30 Minute Love Affair" (Paloma Faith)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result | Jon Moses | Jeff Anderson | Roger Wright | Ben Forster | Rory Taylor | David Hunter | Nathan James |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2) | Bottom three | ||||||||
| 2 | "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin) | Bottom three | ||||||||
| 3 | "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone) | Bottom three | ||||||||
| 4 | "Cold As Ice"(Foreigner) | Safe | ||||||||
| 5 | "Silenced by the Night" (Keane) | Safe | ||||||||
| 6 | "Apologize"(OneRepublic) | Safe | ||||||||
| 7 | "Sweet Child o' Mine"(Guns N' Roses) | Safe |
- Sing-Off:
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | Jon Moses | Jeff Anderson | Roger Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Could We Start Again Please?" from Jesus Christ Superstar | Eliminated | ||||
| Eliminated | |||||
| Saved by Lloyd Webber |
Night 7 (23 July 2012)
- Group performance: "We Are Young" (fun.)
- Guest performance: "Greatest Day" (Gary Barlow, featuring Final 5)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result | Nathan James | Roger Wright | David Hunter | Rory Taylor | Ben Forster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Born This Way" (Lady Gaga) | Bottom two | ||||||
| 2 | "Handbags and Gladrags" (Rod Stewart) | Bottom two | ||||||
| 3 | "Too Close" (Alex Clare) | Safe | ||||||
| 4 | "Under Pressure" (Queen feat David Bowie) | Safe | ||||||
| 5 | "It Must Have Been Love" (Roxette) | Safe |
- Sing-Off
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | Nathan James | Roger Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Changes Everything" from Aspects of Love | Eliminated | |||
| Saved by Lloyd Webber |
Night 8: Semi-final (24 July 2012)
- Group performance: "What's the Buzz" (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice)
- Guest performance: "Habanera" (Katherine Jenkins)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result | Rory Taylor | Ben Forster | Roger Wright | David Hunter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "In the Air Tonight" (Phil Collins) | Bottom two | |||||
| 2 | "Run"(Snow Patrol) | Safe | |||||
| 3 | "Hard to Handle"(Otis Redding) | Safe | |||||
| 4 | "I Try"(Macy Gray) | Bottom two |
Sing-Off
| Act | Sing Off Song | Results | David Hunter | Rory Taylor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "No Matter What" from Whistle Down the Wind | Eliminated | |||
| Saved by Lloyd Webber |
Night 9: Final (25 July 2012)
- Group performances: "Hosanna" and "Gethsemane" (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice)
- Guest performance: "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (Melanie C, featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber)
| Contestant | Order | Song (artist) | Result | Ben Forster | Rory Taylor | Roger Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Queen) | Winner | ||||
| 2 | "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Aerosmith) | Runner-up | ||||
| 3 | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (George Michael feat Elton John) | Eliminated |
The Arena Tour
The tour travelled across the country from 21 September until 21 October 2012 and toured in the following venues: London O2 Arena, Glasgow SECC, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Manchester Arena, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, National Indoor Arena Birmingham, Belfast Odyssey, The O2 Dublin, Echo Arena Liverpool, Nottingham Capital FM and Motorpoint Arena Sheffield. Joining Forster was comedian Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, Melanie C as Mary Magdalene, BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles as King Herod Antipas, Alexander Hanson as Pontius Pilate, Pete Gallagher as Caiaphas, Gerard Bentall as Annas, Michael Pickering as Peter, and Giovanni Spano as Simon Zealotes.
The tour resumed in March 2013 in Australia with Forster, Minchin, and Melanie C reprising their respective roles. Australian TV personality Andrew O'Keefe played the role of King Herod for the Australian leg of the tour, with New Zealand born Jon Stevens (who played Judas in the 1992 Australian arena tour and the 1994 theatre production) playing Pilate. Superstar runner-up Rory Taylor appeared as Simon Zealotes.
The North American tour was to commence on 9 June starting in New Orleans, with stops including Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and more before ending in Philadelphia on 17 August. This leg of the tour was to feature Forster reprising his role as Jesus, Brandon Boyd of rock band Incubus as Judas, Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams as Mary Magdalene, former 'N Sync singer JC Chasez as Pilate, and former Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd lead singer John Lydon as King Herod. On 30 May 2014, the tour was cancelled, mostly due to poor ticket sales.
Reception
Official ratings are supplied by the UK Programme Ratings website, BARB.
Ratings
| Episode | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (millions) | Official ratings | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | Weekly rank | Auditions | Superstar Island | The Final 30 | Live show 1 | Live show 2 | Live show 3 | Live show 4 | Live show 5 | Live show 6 | Live show 7 | Semi-final | Final | Series average | 2012 | N/A | 2.82 | 2.82 | N/A | |||||
| 7 July | 19:25 | 3.04 | 3.03 | #18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 July | 20:00 | 3.11 | 3.16 | #16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 July | 20:00 | 2.89 | 2.95 | #29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 July | 20:00 | 3.08 | 2.99 | #27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 July | 21:00 | 2.83 | 2.81 | #26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 July | 21:00 | 2.37 | Under 2.66 | Outside Top 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 July | 21:00 | 2.69 | 2.67 | #29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 July | 21:00 | 2.90 | 2.83 | #25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 July | 21:00 | 2.64 | 2.66 | #30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 July | 21:00 | 2.59 | 2.49 | #22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 July | 21:00 | 2.54 | 2.54 | #21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 July | 21:00 | 3.17 | 3.11 | #13 |
References
References
- (25 July 2012). "Ben Forster crowned as Jesus in ITV's 'Superstar'". Digital Spy.
- (May 2012). "The panel and host announced". itv.com.
- (6 July 2012). "X Factor singer auditions for Superstar".
- "Andrew decreed that Tim should leave the competition". Superstar.
- "Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets".
- DEBORAH JONES. (1 June 2013). "Jesus Christ Superstar songs shine with Tim Minchin, Melanie C". The Australian.
- "Stars align for the biggest US arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar - Jesus Christ Superstar US Tour".
- Itzkoff, Dave. (31 May 2014). "Anger for 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Cast, and a Black Eye for Its Promoter". The New York Times.
- "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". [[BARB]].
- (9 July 2012). "Andrew Lloyd Webber's Superstar launches with 3.2m on ITV1". [[Digital Spy]].
- (9 July 2012). "Andy Murray's tearful Wimbledon final defeat serves up 16.9m peak". [[Digital Spy]].
- (15 July 2012). "Big Brother slumps to 870,000 on Saturday night". [[Digital Spy]].
- (16 July 2012). "'Family Guy' rockets to 1.2m on BBC Three after 'Shrek' boost". [[Digital Spy]].
- (17 July 2012). "'Superstar' first live show stumbles along with 2.9m". [[Digital Spy]].
- (18 July 2012). "BBC Two's 'Line of Duty' beats ITV's struggling 'Superstar'". [[Digital Spy]].
- (22 July 2012). "'24 Hours in A and E' tops 9pm slot for Channel 4". [[Digital Spy]].
- (22 July 2012). "Dynamo continues to perform strongly for Watch". [[Digital Spy]].
- (22 July 2012). "Olympics fever boosts BBC Three ratings". [[Digital Spy]].
- (24 July 2012). "'Absolutely Fabulous' Olympics special grabs 5.6 million". [[Digital Spy]].
- (25 July 2012). "'Superstar' latest episode attracts more than 2.5 million". [[Digital Spy]].
- (26 July 2012). "'Superstar' soars to series high for Ben Forster's finale win". [[Digital Spy]].
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Superstar (British TV series) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report