Call me old fashioned, but there’s nothing to beat a good gulp of the throat and pretending you’ve got a runny eye when watching one of those programs which is happy for most, but sad for one.

Once again, the BBC has pulled a trump card and got Lord Webber to select his next Joseph with the able assistance of the great British viewing public.
Just like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and the search for ‘Maria’, everyone has their own view and everyone else is wrong!

I love the London stage, especially musicals and have had the pleasure of seeing every Lord Webber musical and have to admit that I see him as quite a genius. He doesn’t have to do this sort of programme after all. He could just sit in a theatre seat and do the mandatory “Next” and the public would not know any better.
To bring this to the public, it is heartwarming to know there’s immense talent out there and not everyone under the age of 25 is worthless!

You can see the want of these youngsters and the real desire, not to be celebs, but to have a career with their love of music - good on them!

The other day my son and myself went to London and whilst up there, popped into see my younger brother who works in the London Coliseum (he doesn’t sing - blimey, he’d clear Trafalgar Square of the pigeons!) and to ‘feel’ the charisma and magic of the stage is so strong.
Years ago, my other brother worked for Robert Stigwood when Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and others were going on.

He used to get me the odd free ticket here and there.

I recall once getting a seat for the Tommy Steele one man show. I seriously thought I’d be bored stiff, but that man commanded the stage and had the audience at his fingertips for two hours. I guess it’s all a part of learning the art of showbiz.

So for these young men, losing is not a failure. It’s a gifted learning kerb and enough people have seen their skills and I’m sure that not one of them will never tread the boards. My golly, they deserve to.

Until then, I’ll take something for my runny eye and vigorously suck a butterscotch around 7pm on a Saturday night.