Jessie Ware has admitted she “begged” for her judging role on ITV’s new musical theatre talent search, MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream.
Fronted by Zoe Ball, the series brings together 14 talented hopefuls from all across the UK, looking for an opportunity to be cast as Sky and Sophie in the West End’s production of Mamma Mia.
Acclaimed British musician Ware joins comedian Alan Carr as well as musical theatre superstars Samantha Barks and Amber Riley on the judging panel.
Filmed in Corfu, Greece over eight weeks, the hopefuls not only have to impress the judges but also Judy Craymer, the creator and producer of the musical, which marks 25 years on the West End, and films.
Reflecting on how she landed the coveted judging role ahead of it’s launch, Ware admitted that she stood outside London’s Novello Theatre, where the show is performed, and sung ABBA’s hit Take a Chance On Me to manifest landing the job.
“I mean, I’m not ashamed to say, I begged for this job,” the Free Yourself hitmaker shared, before quipping: “I said, ‘You need me’, I basically tap-danced.”
“I felt very invested in [it]. When I heard about the show, I felt like it felt really refreshing. The connection to Greece and Mamma Mia and ABBA, of course, and musical theatre, so I was like, ‘This just sounds like the perfect recipe’.”
“I begged. I did the thing where… Oh God, it got me the job so who cares? You know how people used to put your shoe and send it in the mail? Kind of like, I’m like getting me foot in the door.
“Well, I sung outside Mamma Mia. I happened to be there, and I was like, ‘Take a Chance, Take a Chance, Take a Chance’ [ABBA’s hit 1977 track].
“And I’m telling you that two months later, I got the job. It worked.”
