Jason Manford will host a new show at the AO Arena in Manchester to celebrate West End musicals.

Big Night Of Musicals will feature live performances from the casts of Frozen, The Lion King, Back To The Future, The Drifters and Dear Evan Hansen.

Other performances will include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School Of Rock, Bat Out Of Hell and Dreamgirls.

There will be a Disney medley from the cast of Beauty And The Beast during the show which will be on January 24, 2022.


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The 90-minute show will be broadcast on BBC One on January 29 and aired on BBC Radio 2 the day after. 

Kate Phillips, director of entertainment at the BBC, said: “We are delighted to bring a great night of contemporary musicals that the entire family can enjoy into viewers' homes, showcasing the world class talent that British theatre is known for.”

Comedian Manford, 40, will host the night as a thank you to National Lottery players who have helped support the arts sector throughout the pandemic.

More than 2,000 theatres have received support and the National Lottery said “thousands of tickets” are being made available to the grassroots arts organisations it supports from the North West.

A total of £228 million has been given to the culture sector from the National Lottery. 

Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas said: “Following Radio 2’s award-winning Musicals: The Greatest Show which was also broadcast on BBC One in February 2021, I’m thrilled to be delighting our musical-loving listeners once again with this fantastic new show – just what we need to lift our spirits during a cold January.”

Big Night Of Musicals will air on BBC One on January 29 and BBC Radio 2 on January 30.