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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sarah Robertson & Grace Witherden

GMB's Alex Beresford open to West End move as he's tipped to win All Star Musicals

Weatherman Alex Beresford is forecasting a new career on Broadway after wowing judges on the return of All Star Musicals.

Tonight’s latest ITV special has six celebs singing, dancing and acting in front of a live audience again.

And Alex, 41, is already tipped to be crowned the winner after showing star quality in the rehearsals.

Judges including musicals legend Elaine Paige were impressed and experts reckon he could even give up his day job for a stage career.

Alex competes against Corrie’s Lisa George, 49, ex-EastEnder and I’m A Celeb winner Jacqueline Jossa, 29, TV host Michaela Strachan, 55, Bond actor Colin Salmon, 59, and rugby star Danny Care, 35.

They will blast out hits from Frozen, Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Hamilton and others.

Alex admits is already pondering a career switch from presenting the weather on Good Morning Britain.

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Michaela Strachan swaps wildlife presenting for musicals (ITV)

He said: “It left me wanting more. I am open to doing the West End.

“Part of my degree was in ­performing arts but I parked it and went into television presenting.

“If Elaine wants me to come and do something on Broadway, then maybe I will.”

But Alex didn’t start off on the show quite so confidently – and nearly pulled out when presented with the song choice.

He said: “I didn’t want to be a laughing stock on stage and get this completely wrong, and it had a lot of words in it as well.

“It is really fast. If you make a mistake and trip up, you are exposed straight away.

“Luckily, over a weekend I worked with the song and realised maybe I could take this from the shower to the stage.

Coronation Street star Lisa George (ITV)

“I wanted to do something easier but I am so glad they had the vision and believed I could do the song, so no regrets now.”

Alex was also a bit uncomfortable with parts of his costume, admitting he “did not find it comfortable wearing a jockstrap”.

Rival Michaela Strachan also ­suffered with the costumes, telling the Sunday People : “I loved the sparkles and being out of my comfort zone but I did not enjoy the wigs.

“I looked 10 years older – I looked like my mother.

“I walked downstairs and thank goodness the choreographer said, ‘Oh my God, what is that wig?’ So they ­softened it a little bit.

“It was, like, all forehead and nothing else. It is hard when you are so used to seeing yourself as you.”

Alex Beresford is known for presenting the weather on Good Morning Britain (itv)

Despite a background in musical theatre and years of experience of live TV presenting, Michaela said she had stage fright, explaining: “It was different because people are used to seeing you doing the programmes Alex and I do.

"If you make a mistake, people are so used to us and they forgive our mistakes. But in something like this, if you make a mistake people are ­incredibly quick to criticise.

“I was quite confident when I went on stage, feeling really positive, and the orchestra started up and my left leg started to shake and I couldn’t control it, and I had this shake going on.

“I tap-dance, so I just thought, ‘This is really not helpful and now I’m ­completely falling apart on stage.’

“At the end, because I had been smiling so much, I was so dry my lips got stuck to my teeth and I could hardly talk because I had to peel the lip off my teeth!”

Jacqueline Jossa in a Frozen-looking dress (ITV)

Michaela survived a breast cancer ordeal in 2014 and admits it has made her more hesitant when trying new things. I think before children I was much more happy to do lots of scary things, like diving with sharks,” she said.

“I don’t think going through a health scare has made me want to do things that challenge me particularly.”

Elaine, 74, is joined on the judging panel by actors Samantha Barks, 31, and Trevor Dion Nicholas, 39.

But unlike other reality programmes such as The X Factor, the show – once again hosted by John Barrowman – is not overly critical of the acts.

James Bond actor Colin Salmon (ITV)

Last December’s Christmas special was won by actress Catherine Tyldesley, 38, who performed Memory from ­Cats.

Les Mis star Samantha, 31, ­added: “Something I love about the show is the positivity.

“We are honest and there’s ­definitely times where we will say that a performance could have been stronger but the most important thing is the positives.

Rugby scrum-half Danny Care (ITV)

“It is about seeing people ­improving, boosting them and giving them the confidence to be their best selves. For me, that is a beautiful part of the show.

The three of us are giving so much love from our seats. We’re willing for them to succeed, not waiting for them to fail.”

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