The Friday Show Episode Five

This week special guests include Chris Evans and Christine Bleakley, with performances from Pixie Lott and stand-up comedian Lucy Porter.

And watch out for Rachel's diva-esque behaviour at the beginning of the show -- honestly Mariah Carey has nothing on this girl.

Click on the link below:

THE FRIDAY SHOW EPISODE FIVE

New Andrew Llloyd Webber Oz Talent Search

This has been expected for some time, but it's now confirmed that ALW will be involved in a new BBC talent search show, this time to find a Dorothy for the Wizard of Oz. It will be interesting to see who the eventual choice to fill Rachel's ruby slippers will be.

In the meantime, here is a recent newspaper article:

Andrew Lloyd Webber has kicked off his search to find an actress to play Dorothy in his latest West End venture The Wizard Of Oz.

The musical impresario, who is in the early stages of prostate cancer, will use a televised talent show to find his leading lady, a role made famous by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic film.

And the search will come to Northern Ireland in early January when auditions will be held for the new BBC1 show Over The Rainbow.

A spokesman for programme makers Talkback Thames, which also produces the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, said that in previous years Lloyd Webber had been impressed with the talent from here.

The BBC show I'd Do Anything saw three local people make the finals. Belfast girl Rachel Tucker and Bangor's Niamh Perry both battled it out for the role of Nancy in the West End musical, while Londonderry boy Gareth Borrow was a finalist in the search for Oliver.

Rachel and Niamh missed out on the Nancy part but the programme gave them a platform to launch their careers. Rachel won a role in the West End musical We Will Rock You and presents BBC NI's The Friday Show with Eamonn Holmes.

Niamh is starring in the West End's Mamma Mia and is to take on a role in Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera sequel Love Never Dies.

Gareth, meanwhile, lost out on the role of Oliver but landed a part in the same musical, playing one of the workhouse boys.

And the winner of the earlier show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? was won by Connie Fisher, who was born in Lisburn.

Lloyd Webber said: "Our previous musical talent searches have provided an incredible shot in the arm for musical theatre in Britain and I can't wait to work with the BBC again in the hunt for Dorothy."

Over The Rainbow will air next year and if you think you could be Dorothy apply now to audition by going to bbc.co.uk/dorothy.

All applicants must have been aged 16 or over by June 26 2009.

Vote For Rachel !!!!

OK so we're still paying off our giant phone bills from when Rachel was in IDA (well me and Andy are anyway), but this vote won't cost you a penny.

Next April will see the 2010 Fate Magazine awards for local personalities and Rachel is one of the nominees.

All you need to do is click on the link below and vote. You'll need to include an email address for validation purposes, and you can only vote once per email address.

Thanks Danielle for the info.

FATE AWARDS VOTING FORM

By the way 'The Friday Show' Episode 4 was shown last Friday and featured Michael Ball and JLS, but for some reason isn't currently available on BBC Iplayer at the moment.

Please don't start me on BBC efficiency, user-friendliness, directors' pay and licence fees!

Thanks to Danielle & Robert for letting me know that episode four is now available on the BBC Iplayer here:

THE FRIDAY SHOW EPISODE FOUR

This episode is likely to disappear this Friday night when the next show is broadcast, so be quick!

The Friday Show Episode Three

More Friday antics with Rachel and Eamon -- this time Rachel gets to sing 'Don't Stop Me Now' and there's a fantastic lavatorial performance from a wee dog. Oh and NI rock band Ash too.

OK I've a couple of complaints for the BBC. First of all why do the shows disappear from the Iplayer after just seven days? And secondly I've had several complaints that viewers outside the UK can't watch them at all. Come on BBC get your act together. This is important stuff.

Click on the link below to watch (quick before it disappears):

THE FRIDAY SHOW EPISODE THREE

The Friday Show Episode Two

This week's show includes celebrity guest Ross Kemp, music from Camilla Kerslake and comedy with Diarmuid Corr, all tagged onto the end of Rachel's superb rendition of the Kings Of Leon's 'Sex On Fire.'

Viewers of a sensitive disposition should be warned that there is also a guest appearance by Eamon Holme's underpants.

Click on the link below to watch the show:

THE FRIDAY SHOW EPISODE TWO