Jessie Ware will appear as a judge on the upcoming ITV series ‘Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream’.
The talent show will follow the search for two up-and-coming musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in ‘Mamma Mia!’ in London’s West End for its 25th anniversary year.
BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball will host the show, with a judging line-up starring Jessie – who recently released her fifth album, ‘That! Feels Good!’ – comedian Alan Carr, Olivier Award winner Amber Riley, and West End star Samantha Barks.
MAMMA MIA! Here we gooooooo!! So excited to say I am going to be a mentor on the new @mammamiadream coming soon to @ITV 1 and @ITVX ! 🙌 🙌 🙌 #MammaMiaDream pic.twitter.com/ZnQLwiDivB
— Jessie Ware (@JessieWare) May 1, 2023
Creator and global producer of ‘Mamma Mia!’ and co-executive producer of ‘Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream’, Judy Craymer, will also feature throughout the series.
Of her latest gig, Jessie says: “I am absolutely thrilled to be a judge. I love Greece, if you know me you know how much I love Greece. I got married there, I sung a ‘Mamma Mia!’ invite to everybody when they came. So, for me, to be spending the summer in Greece, finding the new breakout stars, and hopefully helping shed some light on the industry and help them find their way, I just can’t wait. It’s going to be a summer to remember.”
“For sure they are going to go on a really hard journey, it’s going to be so much fun, but it’s going to be like the movie,” adds Samantha. “We’re going to be in Greece, the sun will be shining, and I cannot wait for you guys to watch it. I just feel so honoured to get to be on the judging panel because I know what they’re going through, I’ve been there before and I can’t wait to guide them, challenge them, and be there for them.”
Amber enthuses: “I’m really excited to be a part of such an incredible project. Musical theatre has played such an integral role in my growth as a performer. I am all too happy to share what I’ve learned and to cheer on the world’s next biggest stars! Mamma Mia!, here we go!”
“Getting to judge on one of my favourite musicals in one of my favourite locations ever is literally my dream job,” says Alan. “A whole lot of feta and a whole lot of ABBA – perfection!”
Host Zoe adds: “Our contestants are going to go through quite the journey, believe me, but like the show and like the movie, there is going to be song, there is going to be dance and there’s going to be fun in the sun. And we cannot wait for you to come on that journey with us.”
‘Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream’ will air on ITV1 and ITVX later this year with a start date to be announced.