For the second year in a row, The National Lottery will host Big Night Of Musicals, a stunning celebration of the world’s biggest musicals at the AO Arena Manchester on Monday, February 27.
TBI Media will produce a special 90-minute program for BBC One and another program for BBC Radio 2 to air in the spring covering this musical spectacular.
As the show’s host, comedian, presenter, and singer Jason Manford introduces performances from some of the most popular musicals on Broadway and the West End, the arena crowd and viewers at home can expect to be thoroughly entertained.
The spectacular show will feature performances from 13 incredible West End and touring musicals under one roof, including We Will Rock You, Wicked, Matilda, Disney’s Newsies, Shrek the Musical UK and Ireland tour, Six, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, The Bodyguard, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I. Musical theater legend Michael Ball will also be performing in a special performance of the musical Aspects of Love.
BBC Radio 2 will air a special broadcast of the performances, along with exclusive backstage access and interviews with the night’s guest stars, in addition to the main program on BBC One. BBC Sounds will archive the show for a month after it airs.
Host Jason Manford, says: “I’m thrilled to be back hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals for another year. It was incredible to see so many amazing shows under one roof last year, and with 13 completely different shows set to perform this year, it’s guaranteed to be another cracker of a night!”
Suzy Klein, Head of Arts and Classical Music TV, says: ”Following on from the huge success of the first musicals celebration last year, I’m delighted the BBC is able to bring another great night showcasing the very best of performance arts and British theatre, straight to viewers in the comfort of their own homes.”
Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, says: “The Radio 2 listeners love musicals and the stars who light up the stage with their amazing performances, so we’re delighted to be broadcasting Big Night Of Musicals again this year and going behind the scenes to bring all the gossip from backstage!”
The event is a celebration of the help that National Lottery players have given to artistic projects, such as the 2,000 theaters that were helped during the recent Covid crisis.
More information about the lineup is forthcoming.
The Big Night Of Musicals by The National Lottery (1×90’) is a TBI Media production for the BBC and was commissioned by Stephen James-Yeoman, BBC Arts and Classical Music TV. The Executive Producers for TBI Media are Anna Meadows and Phil Critchlow and the Event Executive Producer is Andrew Wyke. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Stephen James-Yeoman.