I'd Do Anything - Jodie Prenger is Nancy

Monday, 2 June 2008

Saturday's grand final of I'd Do Anything live on BBC One saw Jodie Prenger triumph in the public vote and win the role of Nancy in the new Cameron Mackintosh West End production of Oliver!

Immediately after landing one of the best loved roles in musical theatre, 28-year-old Jodie said: "You have genuinely given me my dream, I can't actually put into words how I feel.

"I'm so grateful and so chuffed. I'm just Jodie from Blackpool and to be here is my dream."

Legendary composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who had absolutely no say in the choosing of Cameron's leading lady as viewers voted to select their Nancy, was thrilled with the public's choice.

He said: "She's the people's choice. I think people love her, they love her open personality. I think they relate to that personality and I think that's what makes her Nancy for the public.

"Her strengths are her personality and her very, very strong voice."

Cameron Mackintosh said: "I'm thrilled for Jodie. She is obviously the public's view of what they want to see as Nancy.

"She'll give a terrific performance and I really look forward to putting her into training and getting her into rehearsals."

Torchwood and West End leading man John Barrowman said: "Jodie is not only a good Nancy. She'll be a great Nancy, because she's what everybody expects a Nancy to be.

"She's got a great voice, she's got a motherly instinct with the kids, she's also a fighter and she represents the women of this country and that's what I think will make her great.

"Women can empathise with her and to be honest with you she will be not only a great Nancy but she'll be a superstar. She will go on to do other things more incredible than Oliver."

West End leading lady Denise Van Outen said: "She's beautiful, every woman can relate to her on all life experiences, as she has had that as she's a little bit older than the other girls in the competition.

"She deserves it as she sings from the heart."

Dame Edna Everedge star and former Fagin Barry Humphries commented: "Jodie has a great voice and a very commanding presence. With a flick of the wrist she could kill Bill Sikes.

"She's a warm and emotional performer who will bring her own strong personality to this role."

Presenter Graham Norton said: "I think Jodie really is the people's Nancy. That's what makes the show exciting, that it really is the public in the end that decides who gets the role. I just think Jodie has so much heart and warmth and you believe her.

"At the very beginning Andrew and Cameron talked about a woman not acting, just walking on and you believed that she'd lived a life and you absolutely do with Jodie.

"You don't have to imagine that she's had hard knocks you know she has."