I’m so glad that things worked out this way because I absolutely LOVED this film. I suspect it’s to do with the writers having the freedom to explore the plot more, rather than being hemmed in by the existing musical. And we know these characters now and have come to terms with the slightly bizarre three fathers situation… that meant the quality of the story was so much better and the comedy layered on top was fantastic.

Before Christmas, I suddenly realised I had booked tickets to see a performance of the UK tour of Fiddler on the Roof. I couldn’t remember what had driven me to do this, because whilst I love the songs in the show, the film always felt like it dragged and it’s not one I remember massively fondly. It’s a tough story as well, hard to watch, harrowing in places… a bit incongruous with the festive season we were building up to. Also, I like to hibernate in December.

This is another movie that we’ve been trying to fit in around Christmas because it’s sort of set around Christmas/New Year, but also fitting the right mood because it’s not exactly a festive feast. We finally managed it this year and I’m glad to kick off the year with this as the first film. It’s a great musical, although I’m not a fan of all the elements of it (I can live without the cow over the moon nonsense). I wasn’t sure about all the changes between this and the stage show, they cut quite a lot of mentions of Christmas, and a whole song here and there. And some of the sung through dialogue became conversation, but that worked better than I thought it might. It’s a bit clunky, and the pacing is hard because the first half is joy and love and the second half is emotion and death, but ultimately it’s a great journey.

I love, love, LOVED this film. Right from the start and every minute of it until the end. The trailer looked fun but I wasn’t really expecting a lot - a sort of Jonas brothers rip off of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. And it was that, but it was also so much more. It was hilarious, right from the start, I laughed a lot. They don’t take themselves too seriously, and stack the whole thing with great jokes and self-deprecating moments. The songs are good, maybe not as Christmassy as I hoped, but still excellent for a modern musical.

Musicals week, the final theme before the final and oh, it’s always a good one. This time, there was a big opening number where each of the couples took a turn in the spotlight. It was so much dancing before the proper competition had even begun - where they just bored this week or what? I loved it though, a great medley! George & Alexis - Argentine Tango (Phantom of the Opera) I feel like this was really difficult music to dance to, but George did an incredible job. There’s no way he could have done this a few weeks ago, before the serious side of him came to the fore. It was really good, some tiny wobbles, but very impressive.

This has so much going for it that I should love - it’s a musical version of A Christmas Carol featuring Albert Finney and with input from Lesley Bricusse. It should be ticking all the boxes but somehow it doesn’t. Firstly, it feels pretty drawn out and long, and so much is on Albert Finney’s performance which is an acting masterclass but doesn’t really fit the rest of the film. The songs are kind of upbeat (even I Hate People is actually quite a fun number), the mood is pretty sombre, and I just wasn’t too sure where I stood with it. It’s a shame, but on the other hand, I’m very glad I watched it because I had no idea this is where Thank You Very Much came from!

This really felt like it was setting up a new generation of stars, as Seabrook is pretty much as together and full of kindness as it can be, so now we need a new set of enemies-to-lovers to root for. It’s essentially night versus day and even though everything is pretty predictable, it’s still quite fun to go along for the ride. Lots of bright and breezy songs in this one and that West Side Story vibe that sees you right to the end… in which we are set up for potentially another sequel and another supernatural genre to enjoy.

At this point, you know what you’re getting from these TV movie musicals, and the direction of this one was very much highlighted at the end of the last. We’ve had zombies, we’ve had werewolves, and now we’ve got aliens, all differentiated by their hair colour. This was fun, more of the ‘us against them until we realise we have more in common than we think and all eventually get along’ story, some medium to good songs, and tolerable dance routines. I don’t think it’s as good as the first two movies, but it’s plenty watchable.

After seeing I was on a bit of War of the Worlds kick, my dad mentioned this musical and it turns out I had a copy of it already, picked up in a musicals bundle on Apple. I was a bit nervous about it because the title is so long and what to expect from a musical adaptation of this tricky story? But it was really a pleasant surprise.

Oliver! the musical has had many outings since its inception in the 1960s, and the most recent is a West End Revival that burst onto the scene last year. I saw a performance on one of the variety shows and immediately bought tickets to see it. Taking up residence at the Gielgud theatre, the show is currently booking through to March 2026 and is so far having a very successful run.

Recently, the BBC re-aired the 90s series Showstoppers - a musical extravaganza hosted by Gary Wilmott. I remember having this recorded from its original airing and rewatched it over and over. I know the first episode pretty much word for word… for a musicals fan, it’s a must-watch. The show came about because the BBC Concert Orchestra were basically at a loose end and producers suggested a one off show featuring songs from a variety of musicals. It went down really well, so they followed it up with a six part series, featuring lots of different musical guests, heaps of new and old musical numbers, and lots of dodgy jokes but great charisma from host Gary Wilmott.

I’m completely fascinated by the furore surrounding the new production of Evita in the West End. The choice by producers to take the iconic Don’t Cry For Me Argentina song out to the balcony is causing all sorts of angst. Star Rachel Zegler heads out to the balcony and belts out the song to passers-by, with the ticket-buying audience inside settling for a live stream of the big moment. Hardly surprising that the people inside are a bit miffed at this, having paid a significant sum only to have a key moment of the show completed remotely. For those outside on the street - and they are starting to gather in their hordes, waiting for hours to see the spectacle - it’s a real treat. There’s no real consensus on this one.

I really didn’t know very much about Dear Evan Hansen when the show rolled into town on its current UK tour. The song You Will Be Found is obviously the biggest hit and pops up on various musical reviews and occasional variety shows, but outside of that I could only have told you that the main character has a cast on his arm, and Ben Platt was in the film.

Bat Out of Hell: The Musical was on my list as a must-watch so when the UK tour rocked up nearby earlier in the year, I couldn’t help but snap up tickets. Part of me wondered whether it was going to be too similar to We Will Rock You, an absolute staple in my musicals collection. It has that vibe about it, dystopian rock and roll, a jukebox musical of great rock from decades past, and some grungey characters leading the way. But it definitely was different and held its own.

I liked the first Moana more than I expected to, although it was not without its problem. It popped up on TV one day when I was under the weather and it was quite a soothing re-watch. This sequel is not a patch on the first! So boring, and the couple of songs I heard weren’t great. Couldn’t get past the twenty minute rule at all.

A recent interview with Tim Rice has brought up the idea of captioning musicals for audiences to gain a better understanding, using surtitles (not a word I had come across before) as newer generations are so used to subtitling their content anyway. It’s very frustrating at times, especially if you’re the words man… Time and time again, the lyrics couldn’t be heard when it was choral. If you’ve got great singers like Tommy Körberg or Elaine Paige singing the songs solo, you do hear the words, but the choral stuff can often be quite important and you just don’t hear it.

Right, up front we have to acknowledge the awful portrayal of Native Americans and the casual racism on display here. It’s of its time, sure, but still not really acceptable and there are definitely moments of uncomfortable viewing. But I honestly love every other thing about this movie. Doris Day is brilliant, the love quadrangle a lot of fun, the songs are absolutely banging, and it’s just a joy. There are some surprisingly insightful thoughts on gender hidden behind the misogyny, and plenty of city versus rural rivalry, and all of it topped with some fabulous tunes. Love it.

The Only Fools and Horses Musical has been around for a few years now but left the West End for a UK tour last year and finally I have managed to see it. Written by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan (son of original creator John Sullivan), the musical features all the characters you know and love, including that yellow three-wheeled van, and brings them together for a two hour extravaganza.

There are a couple of good songs in here, and obviously Don’t Cry For Me Argentina is a belter, but I don’t know, is it just me or is the rest of it a hot mess? I found it really hard to follow the actual story, there was a lot of implied knowledge about Argentinian politics, and by the end I couldn’t figure out the point of it. Of course you can just tell the story of someone’s life without it having a big message, but what was the wider context, why did it all have such a depressing ending? Hard pass, if I’m being honest, I’ll just sing the tunes to myself.

This is a weird one, there’s nothing outwardly wrong with this movie, it’s typical of it’s time - singing and dancing and finding love along the way. But it’s also really, really bad. There aren’t many songs, although the dancing is top notch, so it feels a stretch to call it a musical really. The story is awful - this guy stalking a woman he just met and really getting under her skin. Even if you count for the fact that it’s ‘of it’s time’, it’s still pretty questionable. And ultimately the story is a whole lot of nothing. There are better Astaire movies out there.

This show got off to an incredible start for me, because we have only just watched Little Shop of Horrors and lo and behold, they open the main show with a fantastic group dance based on that very musical. Best timing ever. Follow that up with the appearance of Miranda, who promised to be in the audience in November and just managed to squeeze it in before December hits. Well, how can the dancing live up to this great opening? Let’s find out!

Just in time for Musicals week on Strictly, I managed to squeeze in an actual musical viewing. Here & Now - The Steps Musical made its debut in Birmingham, and I rocked up to take in one of the shows. It was brilliant! I love Steps, their kind of wonderful guilty pleasure of music that you know isn’t exactly great art but is one heck of a crowdpleaser.

There’s nothing subtle about these movies, they’re not particularly smart and they’re not particularly clever, they may as well just shout ‘we’re talking about racism, here, okay?’ But for some reason, I still quite like it. There are interesting things to be explored within - how a fragile peace deal can break down when another threat emerges, how desperate you can be to find out how you fit in, etc. It’s bright and colourful, with fun Disney songs, and a good (if not subtle) message.

Wow, this was a trip. I know (and love) a few of these songs but have somehow never actually watched the movie or seen the musical before. I like how quirky it is, having the trio as a chorus popping up in and out of character all the time, and how camp some of the acting is. And Rick Moranis is playing an adorable hero, which is cute.

After the snoozefest that was Friday the 13th, I wanted something a bit brighter and more cheerful and a Disney TV movie fitted the bill exactly. This was so reminiscent of High School Musical, just with added zombies on top. But it’s too different factions at a high school that at first can’t see past the end of their own noses but gradually manage to sing and dance their way to a reconciliation and a happier world. It’s not even slightly subtle with it’s message on prejudice, but still, I quite enjoyed it!

I don’t know when I first saw this but I definitely had it on DVD and had it as one of those things you watch in the background while cleaning or cooking. Lovely Hugh Jackman before he was properly famous, showing off the skills that he later puts to good use as the Greatest Showman. Oklahoma is a bit of a mixed bag though, it’s very long and the dream sequence is diabolical, and I’m not sure the songs really live up to the hype. But I do enjoy the chemistry between the leads and People Will Say We’re in Love is really done well. Plus adorable scatter-brained Ado Annie steals every scene she’s in.

I love these live musical events, and am glad to have the opportunity to see them and review them here… but I have to admit this one wasn’t a favourite. As I said above, I have mixed feelings about Annie the musical anyway - it’s a bit dreary but some of the songs are real classics. The good stuff in here was great - Taraji as Miss Hannigan was exceptional, the pipes on our new young Annie amazed, and it flowed really well. But the camerawork was wonky, Nicole Scherzinger seemed out of place and how could anyone look at anything other than Warbucks’ bald head? Medium good but worth a watch anyway.

I’ve not seen this musical before but I knew a lot of the songs going into it, they are musical classics after all. It was an interesting watch, although I thought ultimately it was quite light on plot. But it’s fun to be behind the scenes of the theatre, and so much brilliant tap dancing it was a joy to behold. Bonnie Langford is fab, and I was very impressed with Clare Halse. Not one I’d particularly seek out again but I’m glad to have ticked it off the musicals list.

I had previously gone to see this musical when it was in the theatre, but I left at the interval. The first half hadn’t massively grabbed me but it was more about me - I was not in the right headspace to watch what happened to these doomed characters. We know how this story ends and it’s not a happy history. So I was quite glad to see this recording of the live show, so I could watch the second half in the safety of my own space.

I was lucky enough to see Tim Rice on stage recently, as the musical legend toured the country to talk about his life, career and achievements. It was worth every penny of the entry price, with the famous lyricist sharing great stories and surprising facts, and a quartet of singers showcasing some of the songs that have littered his illustrious career so far.

It’s taken me quite a while to pluck up the courage to watch this, as it’s such a cult classic and never really looked like it would be my cup of tea. Actually, I quite liked it. I didn’t understand any of it, and it all felt like a lot of nonsense - but I like the rock opera songs and the costumes and style were just incredible. Plus I’ll watch Tim Curry doing anything and this iconic role he inhabits to perfection.

It is mad to think this was the first animated movie of its kind, the legacy that it kicked off, and just how long ago it was. It’s not the most exciting movie of all time, and the songs get a bit high pitched and gooey by the end. Plus, of course, the evil Queen’s strategy makes no sense. But for its time and what it is, it’s a really good effort!

I wanted to wipe my mind of the Blair Witch and you can’t find anything more different than a Disney princess doing what she does best. This is fun, great songs, and some enchanting (pun intended) characters. You love to hate Gaston, the clock and the candlestick are clearly a brilliant couple, and the beast learns some valuable lessons along the way. I do hope Belle gets to spend as much time as possible in that epic library!

So close to the end now and the show descends into chaos! We were all really looking forward to five brilliant dances on Musicals week that would then send four couples through to the semi finals, only to find that Nigel injured himself and couldn’t perform. This late in the day, that means he’s out of the competition! There are contingencies in place for this, of course, and instead of someone else leaving the competition this week, there would be no public vote, these four couples go through to the semi finals and the judges scores roll over. Disappointing but still, musicals - hooray!

This is another movie that I’ve seen before a long time ago, but I really couldn’t remember anything about it. I thought there was something to do with the choir but perhaps raising money for the convent or something? Of course not, this is all about the delectable Whoopi Goldbergy causing trouble wherever she does but being absolutely adorable at the same time. I love the tension between her and Maggie Smith’s character, these two need more screen time together! It’s just a good movie, funny in places although not laugh out loud, really, and with some good songs. Although, My Guy being changed to My God is stuck in my head something chronic now. Thanks, choir.

Oh I want to be mad at this musical - Professor Higgins is the actual worst and some of these songs really grind my gears. But I can’t help it, it’s a classic, the tunes are proper tunes, and now that I have a bit more knowledge about Audrey Hepburn, I can’t help but enjoy her performance more! Of course, the accents are terrible, the dubbing poor, and the society that she’s trying to join seems a lot worse than the one she left. Also, what an absolute nothingness Freddy is. It’s bad but somehow those tunes (some of them, anyway) just bring it right out of the gutter.

I haven’t seen this for AGES and it was a bit of a revelation in lots of different ways. The variety of vocal abilities was the first thing that took me by surprise, that Clint Eastwood can pull off a tune whilst lead Lee Marvin is less talented in the vocal area but far more in the emotions and comedy of the piece.

I saw the stage musical of this relatively recently - reluctantly, I thought it wasn’t going to be any good, and left the theatre irritated at how brilliant it was, and in floods of tears. So, was very keen to see how the film version turned out, particularly with Aisling in the lead. It was just as good! Actually, very close to the stage version, and just as moving.

Finally, I have managed to cross ‘Watch Back to the Future: The Musical’ off my to do list. There have been a couple of failed attempts and I’ve been worried that the universe didn’t want me to see it, but I’ve thwarted the universe and seen the brilliance of this show.

I’m glad this has been recorded for posterity, I think all musicals should get this honour, but I have to be honest, this performance didn’t fully do it for me. The crowd were more intrusive and annoying, as much as they were just showing their love for the show. And I think some of the people I saw were actually better. Fun seeing Hannah in action though!

I can’t believe I haven’t seen this before, although I know a lot of the cultural references to it, of course. And I knew all but maybe two of the songs, without actually knowing the context of them in the story. It sort of boggled my mind how watching the movie brought everything together!

I knew a lot of the songs from this but had never pieced them together in context, I’ve not seen this musical before. It’s slightly quirky, helmed by Louis Armstrong who seems to be a sort of musical narrator at times. But of course the stars of the show are inescapably legendary and that carries the whole thing - even if the plot is a bit thin and contrived at times. Lots of fun, though.

I’ve been working through a variety of musicals recently and this one popped into my head and just wouldn’t go away. I was reluctant because although I loved this as a kid, when I was thinking back on it, it took on a sort of screechy and long-winded persona in my mind. I couldn’t have been more wrong, it’s so good. The songs are great, there’s a real earnestness about it that isn’t cheesy or eye-rolling. And it’s a happy ending. I still wonder whether Grace just planned the whole thing to get Warbucks to notice her but never mind, it worked.

This is heralded as such a classic movie musical, one of the greatest of all time, and somehow I’d never seen it before. I knew of many of the songs and obviously aware of classic moments like the actual singing and dancing in the rain but none of it had context. It was good, and I liked the story about the transition from silent movies to talking pictures, but I don’t quite know if I’d count it as the greatest! Still, you can’t fault old school tap dancing routines and Gene Kelly is a legend, even if he’s overshadowed by Cosmo in this movie.

This is a musical I’ve watched so many times before but not for a long while now. I’d forgotten some of the finer details of the movie but the rhythms of it are still so clear to me. I knew as well going into this that I’d spot some things that younger me didn’t realise which is always fun.

These live-action remakes are really asking for trouble when they are trying to re-invent such stone-cold classics, and this one sadly doesn’t live up to its predecessor. At best, this movie is okay, but it veers into irritating territory and Will Smith as the genie is a choice that I just can’t get on board with. The songs are the only thing that make this worthwhile and they are obviously straight from the original… except for the new musical moments which are then just jarring against the brilliance of the old ones. Overall, just meh.

This is a perfectly fine retelling of A Christmas Carol, great voice cast, good enough songs, nice animation. But it doesn’t really add anything to the Dickens universe, there’s not a lot new or exciting about it. I feel like at this point, the story has been done so often that you need to add something to it or have a unique take on it to make it worthwhile. This is fine, but there are other better ones to watch. (Muppets!)

Traditionally, I don’t let Christmas start until 1st December but this released on Apple TV+ on Friday and it just had to be watched, so this year, Christmas comes early! It was so good, a lot better than I was expecting. I thought it would just be Ryan and Will reliving the story of A Christmas Carol and putting their silly brand of humour in it. But it was a musical with really good songs, it was a twist on the traditional tale, and it was full of heart and humour and a surprising ending. This is definitely one that will be rewatched many years in the future.

I know quite a few of the songs from this musical without having actually seen it until now - and what a production to have for a first viewing. The cast were incredible, particularly of course Sutton Foster who absolutely steals the show and dominates every scene and dance number she’s in. Her inter-play with Robert Lindsay was great, although I do think that slightly fake fourth-wall break in Friendship was a bit awkward.

This is my earliest film watched to date, and my first Fred & Ginger, and I really enjoyed it. What a great musical! It’s a bit corny in places, and I really question the logic of someone tap dancing in any kind of apartment or hotel building… but I loved all the mistaken identity stuff, and that everything that happened just went to reinforce her thinking Jerry was the married one. Fun and frothy, and the only downside was how poor the Venice set looked… to my modern eyes, of course.