David Ian

A three-part series exploring how the British musical became a driving force behind musical theatre around the world — a tale of shows, daring, rivalries, talent and fortunes are set in just a single square mile.

Grease: You're the One That I Want! was an NBC reality television series designed to cast the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko in a $10 million Broadway revival of the musical Grease to be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall. The Broadway production began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on July 24, 2007, and officially opened on August 19. The TV show, from the producers of Dancing With the Stars, was patterned after an original format created by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the BBC series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, which selected the lead in the successful 2005 West End revival of The Sound of Music. The show's title was taken from the song "You're the One That I Want" from the 1978 screen adaptation of Grease. Although the song was not part of the original Broadway production, the revival will add the songs written for the film to those written for the original Broadway production. The program generated so much interest in the upcoming Broadway revival that, as The New York Post reported on April 4, 2007, ticket sales had topped $9 million, although the TV show was a "ratings loser".

Grease Is the Word was the United Kingdom version of NBCs Grease: You're the One that I Want!. It aired during 2007, and was produced by Syco TV. The winning couple, Susan McFadden & Danny Bayne, went on to star in a new West End production of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre. The judges were actor and theatre producer David Ian, concert promoter and media personality David Gest, former popstar and television personality Sinitta, and choreographer and former The X Factor judge Brian Friedman. The main ITV show was presented by Zoë Ball, and Holly Willoughby presented Greased Lightnin on ITV2. Greased Lightnin shows extra unseen auditions, behind the scenes gossip and exclusive interviews with the judges and contestants. Cat Deeley was originally scheduled to present the show, but had to pull out at the last minute due to scheduling difficulties with her American shows. Simon Cowell was also supposed to be a judge on the show but could not as it was shown at the same time as American Idol where he was contracted to appear as a judge. He was still an executive producer. Unlike the NBC series, the ITV programme was not based on the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? format, which is owned by the BBC.

Each episode of this stand-up shows sees three acts, from newer comedians to more established names, performing live from the UK's first permanent LGBTQ+ comedy club in London, offering a light hearted take on everything to do with being queer. The Queer Comedy Club opened its doors in Archway in May 2023 with the aim to celebrate queer culture, find the ridiculous in our everyday lives and encourage more queer comedians to find their voice and take it into the wider world.

The late Irish hero fireman's (Lefty) charming son William M. "Billy" Dylan (25) is elected as independent, youngest Massachusettes state representative. He joins the Democrats, Congress seat Beacon Hill's legendary rooster, House speaker Charles T. "Chick" Mudoon, who trusts the customary campaign debt check will reel the rookie in as another meek party soldier. However the naive, naturally noble new boy, who doesn't hesitate to single-handedly fight off two skinhead gay-bashers, has and follows his own conscience. He defeats Muldoon's dodgy attempts to prevent a congressional committee investigating state police school cadet abuse, which would compromise his deputy, majority leader Spanky Reardon. It seems Muldoon's revenged when Dylan gets framed for the alleged violent abuse of a two-faced congressional aid. However, there's a more devious, ambitious plot behind two abuse cases and a staged corrupt payment for a memorial hospital wing.