Britain’s Got Talent final to feature performances from West End musicals

Performers from three West End musicals will appear on the upcoming Britain’s Got Talent final.

Some 60 performers will come together to give fans a taste of London’s West End, including Michael Ball, Matt Lucas, Carrie Hope Fletcher, John Owen-Jones, Shan Ako, Killian Donnelly, Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp.

Musicals have been forced to close since lockdown officially began in March, leaving the industry on its knees as actors and crew have been left without work.

Now, viewers will get a chance to see a turn from the companies of Les Miserables – The Staged Concert, The Phantom Of The Opera and Mary Poppins, all produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

The performance coincides with Les Miserables’ 35th birthday and The Phantom Of The Opera’s 34th birthday.

Mackintosh has previously confirmed that the West End production of The Phantom Of The Opera has permanently closed and confirmed his other shows, which also include Hamilton, will not return to the West End this year.

He said: “Britain’s theatrical talent is the best in the world so it is a wonderful opportunity, after seven months of enforced lockdown, to be invited by Britain’s Got Talent to showcase three of my greatest British musical hits with their fabulous West End casts all bursting to perform again, and remind audiences what an unforgettable thrill it is to enjoy the exhilaration of a live show.

“Several years ago, Susan Boyle dreamed her dream and set the world alight and we are both eager and anxious to be told when we can fully reopen again next year so that we can all properly get on with our lives and celebrate the world-beating talents of our amazing culture.”

The news comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak faced backlash after he suggested people from a number of sectors, which had been decimated by Covid-19, should “adapt” to “new opportunities”.

“I can't pretend that everyone can do exactly the same job that they were doing at the beginning of this crisis,” he told ITV.

"That's why we've put a lot of resource into trying to create new opportunities.”

Britain’s Got Talent final airs on ITV at 7.30pm on Saturday October 10.

Additional reporting from PA

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