ITV Orders Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream Competition

Thames and Littlestar are working on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, a theatrical competition format, for ITV1.

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream will search for two ingénues to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in Mamma Mia! in London’s West End. Throughout the series, musical theater hopefuls will be put through their paces as they navigate their way through challenges, masterclasses and performances.

The show will be filmed against the beautiful backdrop of the idyllic Greek islands, where the original Mamma Mia! story is set. Audiences will see the contestants mentored by guest industry stars through workshops and judged by a panel of well-known industry experts in both music and theatre.

Contestants will have the full Mamma Mia! experience and will get to see first-hand what it’s like to be part of a West End musical. It will culminate in a grand finale, broadcast from a theater in London’s West End, where two winners will win roles in the musical.

Creator and global producer of Mamma Mia!, Judy Craymer, will co-executive produce the show and will be on hand to help the contestants reach their full performing potential every step of the way.

Craymer said: “Mamma Mia! has always been a show that has encouraged young actors and given opportunities to those making their stage debuts—just as our current Sophie and Sky in London (Meg Hateley and Miles Henderson) are making their West End debuts—so it feels the perfect fit for a TV show that will seek out new talent for musical theater.

“In the lead-up to the celebrations for the stage musical’s 25th birthday in 2024, we’re really looking forward to working with Thames and ITV on this show and involving our well-loved musical as much as possible in the program.”

Amelia Brown, managing director of Thames, a Fremantle label, said: “The excitement we have for making this show is like no other—it’s a dream come true for so many of us at Thames. Merging the global brand of Mamma Mia! and all the talent at Littlestar with the power behind the talent show juggernauts such as Britain’s Got Talent will mean it’s a show that can’t be missed.”

Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, added: “Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream is everything we could want in an entertainment show—legendary music, an iconic West End theater show, high energy performances, and a brand new search for talent, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous island.”