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Kara Tointon And Katherine Kelly To Star In Live Broadcast Of ‘The Sound Of Music’

The hills are aliiiive with the sound of musiiic… or at least they will be soon, as a live broadcast of The Sound Of Music is coming to ITV around Christmas time.

Ex-EastEnders star Kara Tointon will have some big boots to fill, as she’s playing the part of lead protagonist Maria alongside her Mr Selfridge co-star Katherine Kelly, who will transform into Baroness Elsa Schraeder.

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The Sound of Music Live! is going to be a two-and-a-half hour television dramatisation of the popular musical, which will include all of the songs from the classic soundtrack such as ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ and ‘My Favourite Things’, so get your vocal chords ready to sing along!

Downton Abbey star and trained opera singer Julian Ovenden should have no problem taking on the big numbers in the role of Captain Georg von Trapp alongside Alexander Armstrong as Uncle Max (Detweiler).

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Elaine Bedell, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, has said of the upcoming TV musical: “This is the first time in the UK that this type of project has been attempted - a musical drama both performed and broadcast live - but big ambitious live television events is what ITV does well.”

"We’ve assembled some of the very best talent both in front of and behind the camera, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.”

Ted Chapin, the president of Rodgers and Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, was also confident that this would be the festive season’s “must-see”.

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He added: “The Sound Of Music really is in a class by itself. The notion of creating a production for live television broadcast is a large undertaking, and one we are delighted ITV has taken on for what will undoubtedly be a Christmas time treat for the whole of the UK.”

The US had their own success with a live adaption of the hit musical starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer, pulling in 18.5 million viewers.

Will you be donning your Christmas party hat and slumping into your favourite spot on the sofa for this musical extravaganza?