Ok, the public got it right this week….

What’s been so fascinating about this version of the reality show is that no clear favourite has emerged. On Sunday night two different girls were in the sing off again; Emilie and Sophie sang ‘I Know Him So Well’ from Chess, made famous by the great Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson.

I think from the moment Emilie’s name was announced as one of the bottom two, everyone knew she had no chance. The judges thought her Saturday night performance of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ was better than the week before, but personally I think they were just being nice because they didn’t want her to cry again. Emilie’s performance was simply AWFUL. I’m not trying to be mean, but she looked like a cartoon character flouncing about on stage.

I had a feeling Sophie would be in the bottom two, I’m a great fan of hers, but her styling is all wrong and I think Andrew Lloyd Webber is right, she needs to look a bit more wholesome rather than like someone playing dress up.

Jessica was really good this week and she managed to perform without pulling all of the dramatic faces. And Steph was superb, not sure if she’s Dorothy, but we were thinking that she would make an excellent Elphaba in Wicked.

I think I’m going to need another week to fully make up my mind about the potential Over The Rainbow favourites. Any ideas?

Over The Rainbow contunues next Saturday.

The Gielgud Theatre is now the location of a ‘be-in’ with hippies climbing over audience members every night and daisies being distributed in the aisles. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the world of Hair. 

The iconic 60’s musical opened to great acclaim last week, which is no surprise, considering that entire Tony award winning Broadway production, including tribe members, have come to London. Hair depicts the world of a Hippie Tribe and their opposition to authority, primarily directed at the American involvement in the Vietnam War. The Guardian called it a “A vibrant, joyous piece of living theatre” and the Telegraph pronounced it “Theatrical bliss”.

The key to Hair is the music; many songs have crossed into popular culture throughout the generations. ‘Aquarius’ and ‘Let the Sunshine’ In are used in adverts and played on the radio. But there are other gems, such as ‘Ain’t Got No’, ‘Good Morning Starshine’ and ‘Donna’.

The Hippies bounce all over the stage and into the audience at many times provoking many laughs from their carefree and dopy actions. But Hair also offers an underlying darkness, precariously lurking about in the form of character hallucinations, ultimately portraying an American society grappling with the Vietnam war and the effects of political unrest.

Want some peace and free love? Hair is booking until 8th January 2011 at the Gielgud Theatre in London. Book your Hair tickets here.

Another week, and yet another completely different pair of girls in the bottom two on Over The Rainbow. With no clear front runner yet, it’s been rather hard to predict who might go next.

Dani and Danielle faced off to sing ‘Maybe This Time’ from Cabaret. I think from the moment they both started singing, we all knew Danielle would be saved, but fair play to Dani as she certainly went out with gusto. Once again, I don’t think either girl deserved to be in the bottom two.

Dani was much better than last week, but I don’t think she was ever going to win the show. Danielle was good, but didn’t really stand out with her performance of ‘Could It Be Magic’

My pick of the week was Sophie who finally seemed to find her comfort zone and thankfully wasn’t wearing a pair of hotpants this week.

My question is: What on earth is Emilie still doing there? She sang ‘Moon River’, which was a little better than last week’s shaking and dancing disaster, but she just does not have the voice. And Jessica’s over the top facial expressions started to get on my nerves. I still like her but she needs to tone it down because it’s starting to look ridiculous.

I’m not even going to predict which way this is going to go next week, but if Emilie’s public support wavers, she may find herself taking a trip to the moon.

Over The Rainbow is back next Saturday night on BBC One at 7.15pm

Make that Bronte.

It wasn’t a good weekend for the aspiring Dorothy from Cheshire. After receiving generally positive feedback from the panel for her performance of ‘Suddenly I See’ Bronte found herself in the bottom two with Lauren. Lord Lloyd Webber was forced to give one the chop.

Not only was Bronte banished from the Over The Rainbow crowd, she was rather humiliatingly and inadvertently called ‘Barbie’ by the Lord himself. I don’t think anyone could figure out at first if the Lord was attempting to make a joke or if he was just a little confused about where he was. Thankfully Graham Norton jumped in and corrected the situation, nervously laughing at the Lord’s gaff.

Neither Bronte or Lauren deserved to be in the bottom two. However, I couldn’t see Bronte as Dorothy either. There never seemed to be any depth in her performances.

But with the likes of Emilie struggling to sing and dance her way through her song again this week, and Dani looking petrified as she performed, Bronte certainly didn’t deserve to take a trip to the moon.

So a surprise victim last week; not quite sure what the public are thinking. Stay tuned.

Saturday night was the first live show for the prospective Dorothy’s, and the wild card winner was revealed. Emilie claimed the prize (although Claire Hillier was my favourite) and was brought back to complete as part of the final 11.

So…each of the girls came out an did their thing…it’s always amazing to see how polished reality contestants are, considering most of them have no experience with television. Poor Amy and Steph found themselves in the bottom two and in a sing off for their survival. Each belted out Whistle Down the Wind and in a moment of pure decisiveness and without hesitation, the Lord gave Amy the boot.

Then things got really good….you have to love British TV. In a moment of kitsch that could compete with any variety show of the 1970’s, Amy had to give her gemstone shoes to Lord Lloyd Webber and sing Over the Rainbow while she was hoisted away in a moon. Yes, a moon (lunar variety). She floated away off the set while the other girls with tear stained cheeks waved her goodbye.

At this point I was on the floor with tear stained cheeks as well - due to a bout of hysterical laughter. The producers of this show must have a fantastic sense of humour.

Who will fly away into the moonset next week? I’m thinking that Emilie really should have been bottom two last week. It could have been nerves though.

Over The Rainbow continues next Saturday night!