ITV orders Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream to find stars for Abba stage show

The Mamma Mia! stage show

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has commissioned a new talent show format that aims to find future stars for Abba-themed musical Mamma Mia!.

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream is being produced for the broadcaster’s flagship channel by Fremantle-owned prodco Thames and Littlestar.

The eight-part series will search for two ingénues to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in Mamma Mia! in London’s West End, as characterised by Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in the two Mamma Mia! films.

Throughout the series, musical theatre hopefuls will be put through their paces as they navigate their way through challenges, masterclasses and performances.

The show is being filmed in the Greek islands, where the original Mamma Mia! story is set. Audiences will see the contestants mentored by guest stars through workshops and judged by a panel of experts in both music and theatre.

The competition will culminate in a live finale broadcast from a theatre in the West End, where two winners will take it all and land the roles of Sophie and Sky in the musical.

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

The series is executive produced by Amelia Brown, Charlie Irwin and Ashley Whitehouse for Thames and Judy Craymer for Littlestar. It was commissioned for ITV by head of entertainment commissioning Katie Rawcliffe and commissioning editors Lily Wilson and Louise Major.