Television Programmes
While Creative Head of BBC Entertainment Events, Bea Ballard put forward to the then Controller of BBC ONE, Peter Fincham, the idea of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria. She successfully got the series commissioned, and off the ground. The programme was the first time that a West End musical had been cast via a television show, with the public voting on contestants drawn from open auditions held all over Britain. The programme has spawned other continuations of the format, such as Grease for ITV and NBC in America. The format is also being adapted internationally for a number of other musicals.
Following the How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, the BBC developed Any Dream Will Do, the search to cast the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Ballard also recently worked with Stephen Fry on Weekend for BBC FOUR.The weekend included the documentary 50 Not Out, and the programme Guilty.
Read more about this topic: Bea Ballard
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