Ahead of tonight’s 90-minute Big Night of Musicals extravaganza on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (from 7.45pm), we caught up with the stars behind the showstoppers to discuss the magic of the Manchester AO Arena and the power of theatre.
For a full breakdown of the night, including the complete setlist and every star performer, see our main guide to Big Night of Musicals 2026 here.
Sam Ryder (Jesus Christ Superstar). Photo credit see below
Sam Ryder: A “homecoming” as Jesus
Eurovision sensation Sam Ryder makes his theatrical debut tonight, performing a world-exclusive rendition of “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Superstar.
Speaking to host Jason Manford, Ryder revealed that taking on the iconic role for the upcoming London Palladium run feels like a spiritual return. “It’s a homecoming. To sing these songs, which are part of the bedrock of musical theatre, in front of 12,000 people… it’s an energy you just can’t replicate.”
More about Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Paddington). Photo credit see below
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt: Bringing Paddington to life
One of the most anticipated moments of the night is Paddington The Musical. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who leads the show as the formidable Millicent Clyde, performs the showstopper “Pretty Little Dead Things.”
“The scale of this production is enormous,” she told us. “To be able to give the BBC audience a glimpse of the bear’s world before we open at the Savoy Theatre is such a privilege. It’s funny, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s very, very British.”
Book tickets for Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in London
Alexandra Burke (I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical). Photo credit see below
Alexandra Burke: The ultimate Chaka Khan
Closing this year’s Big Night of Musicals is West End powerhouse Alexandra Burke, who gives a high-octane preview of the new musical I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical.
Burke, who recently starred in The Bodyguard and Sister Act, described the finale as a celebration of a legend. “Chaka’s music is about soul and survival. Being the finale of Big Night of Musicals with a career-spanning medley… I just wanted to leave it all on that stage for the fans.”
Jason Manford (The Choir of Man). Photo credit see below
The “Big Sing”: Jason Manford & The Choir of Man
Host Jason Manford isn’t just presenting; he’s joining the “Big Sing” alongside the cast of The Choir of Man and the National Lottery-funded Infant Hercules choir.
“Every year, this event gets bigger,” Manford noted. “But seeing a men’s choir from Teesside standing alongside West End pros to sing ‘You’re The Voice’… that’s what this is about. It’s about the community that theatre builds.”
Marc Antolin (The Producers). Photo credit see below
The Comedy Kings: Marc Antolin & The Producers
Representing the “funniest show in the West End,” Marc Antolin (Leo Bloom) and Andy Nyman (Max Bialystock) brought the house down in Manchester with a high-energy medley of “We Can Do It” and “I Wanna Be A Producer.”
For Antolin, performing Mel Brooks’ classic on such a massive scale was a career highlight. “It’s like a drug performing this show every night,” Marc told us. “The writing is so brilliant and the characters are so ridiculous that you can’t help but fall in love with them. To see 12,000 people laughing at Leo Bloom’s neuroses was just incredible.”
Book tickets for The Producers at the Garrick Theatre in London
Zizi Strallen and Emma Kingston (Wicked). Photo credit see below
The Powerhouse Duo: Wicked at 20
As Wicked prepares to celebrate its landmark 20th anniversary in London later this year, the BBC audience will be treated to a stunning rendition of “For Good,” performed by the current West End Elphaba and Glinda, Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen.
The chemistry between the two leads was the talk of the AO Arena. “Wicked is a show about the power of friendship, so performing ‘For Good’ in an arena feels very intimate and very massive all at once,” Kingston noted. “It’s a perfect tribute to the fans who have kept us flying for two decades.”
Book tickets for Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London
Ava Brennan (Oliver!). Photo credit see below
A New Twist: Oliver! at the Gielgud
Cameron Mackintosh’s “fully reconceived” production of Oliver! is one of the hottest family tickets in London. For the broadcast, Ava Brennan as Nancy delivers a soul-stirring “As Long As He Needs Me” that confirms why she is one of the West End’s leading ladies.
The production, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, has been a critical sensation since opening at the Gielgud Theatre. “Being part of this new vision for Oliver! is an honour,” Brennan said. “Nancy is such a fierce, complicated woman, and bringing her heart to this stage is something I’ll never forget.”
Book tickets for Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre
The Lion King. Photo credit see below
A Wild “Circle of Life”: The Lion King
Opening the entire broadcast tonight is Disney’s landmark musical The Lion King. The West End company, currently led by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Simba and Thenjiwe Nofemele as Rafiki, delivered a breathtaking “Circle of Life” that filled the arena with puppets and percussion.
“Bringing the Serengeti to a 12,000-seat arena is a logistical feat, but the energy from the crowd was electric,” Stephenson told us. “It’s a reminder that after 27 years in London, this story still has the power to stop people in their tracks.”
Book tickets for The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London
La Voix (Annie). Photo credit see below
A Hard Knock Life: La Voix & Annie
In a performance that combined West End polish with showbiz style, drag superstar La Voix gave a sneak peek of her turn as Miss Hannigan in the upcoming UK tour of Annie. Joined by young performers from the Wild Things Performing Arts group, the performance of “It’s A Hard Knock Life” was a standout moment.
“I haven’t even started rehearsals for the tour yet!” La Voix quipped. “Talk about a warm-up! But seeing those kids’ faces when they walked out onto that stage… that’s the real magic of the National Lottery’s support for the arts.”
All photos: BBC / TBI Media / Scott Garfitt / Screenshots / Supplied
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