Yahoo News E4’s Stage School To Follow West End Hopefuls – Including Union J’s Casey Johnson
E4 is set to go behind the scenes of a drama school to bring viewers an “all-singing, all-dancing journey of auditions, love affairs and jazz hands” – aka the perfect recipe for a reality series.
The 30-part series, described as a “structured reality” programme, will follow the lives of the talented students attending the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Kent, as well as giving us a glimpse into their West End auditions.
Copyright [Instagram/BetsyBlueOffic]
Aiming to reveal the ups and downs of trying to make it in the world of showbusiness, Stage School will feature “the b**ching, the backstabbing and the romances, along with the break-out singing and dance routines.”
What’s more, X Factor couple Casey Johnson and Betsy-Blue English will be returning to our screens amongst the other 18-25 year old showbiz hopefuls, as we follow their experiences at the performing arts school.
Union J star Casey admitted that it had been “tougher” than the ITV singing competition, whereby he competed as part of Stereo Kicks and first met Only the Young’s Betsy-Blue.
Copyright [Twitter/CaseyCodyJ]
“It’s different. But it’s harder than ‘The X Factor,’” Casey told Digital Spy. “There are egos, arguments, drama. It’s going to be so good.”
He revealed that some of those arguments are between himself and his girlfriend, and Betsy added that she was nervous about how she will appear on screen.
“On The X Factor, you know they want to make you look your best,” she explained. “But on this, you just don’t know how you’ll come across.”
Copyright [Instagram/CaseyCodyJ]
Creator and Knickerbockerglory managing director Jonathan Stadlen said of the upcoming series: “Young people don’t want to be doctors or lawyers anymore, they want to be superstars – and there’s no better place to train for superstardom than D&B.
“We wanted to capture the drama, hard work and exuberance of the pupils, and getting them to break into song felt a natural next step on from watching their rehearsals and performances.
“The songs they perform are all hits we know and love. To go from reality into a music video performance and back into reality again is a really exciting experience for viewers.”
Jazz hands at the ready as Stage School will air later this summer on E4.
