New Prime-Time Entertainment Show for ITV

LONDON: ITV Studios has been commissioned to produce a new 6×1-hour prime-time entertainment project, Popstar to Operastar, for ITV1’s winter schedule.

The show will follow eight singers as they transition into the world of opera, with the help of professional mentors Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon. The contestants will perform world-famous opera songs, training in a completely different style than they are used to and also a completely different language. The viewers decide the winner of the show, voting each week for who stays. 

Among those confirmed to take part are Alex James, the bassist from Blur; Bernie Nolan, a vocalist in the Nolan Sisters; Danny Jones of the boy-band McFly; and Darius Campbell, who rose to fame on ITV’s Pop Idol. Also signed on for the show are Kym Marsh, the Coronation Street star who found fame when she won ITV’s Popstars and became part of the band Hear’Say; Marcella Detroit, who was one half of the band Shakespeare’s Sister; and Vanessa White, from the girl-band The Saturdays. 

The series will be executive produced by Katie Rawcliffe, ITV Studios’ head of entertainment series (Dancing on Ice, Hell’s Kitchen) and Lee Connolly, the executive producer of ITV Studios’ music and events (The Royal Variety Performance, The Girls Aloud Party). The format has been co-created by ITV Studios and Renegade Productions. The format will launch to the international market in 2010.

Rawcliffe commented: “Challenging established pop stars to become tremendous tenors and stunning sopranos is no easy task. We are delighted to have two great stars, Katherine and Rolando, mentoring our cast of pop stars. From Blur’s Alex James, to Bernie Nolan and Jimmy Osmond we think there is a star for everyone to follow. With the added ingredients of Meat Loaf and Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen, joining Katherine and Roland on the critics’ panel this will be a very entertaining watch.”

Remy Blumenfeld, the director of formats at ITV Studios, said: “Popstar to Operastar will build on the growing global popularity of opera. It’s a format we hope will do well anywhere in the world where people enjoy singing like divas and where pop stars are up for a fresh challenge. Who wouldn’t want to hear Jimmy Osmond attempting Puccini’s Nessun Dorma or Donizetti’s Don Pasquale?”

Jon Rowlands, the creative director at Renegade Productions, added: “When we devised the show we thought there was something in pop stars trying to make the transition to opera stars as these worlds are poles apart. But it was only in the process of casting and rehearsing the show that we fully appreciated what a huge challenge these stars were taking on. We think this series has it all—show stopping tunes, sumptuous staging, nail biting drama and hopefully some truly remarkable performances.”