Bush To Be Joined by U.K. TV Personality/Theatre Star Denise Van Outen, Who Will Serve as Co-host
Billy Bush ("Access Hollywood") has signed on to host NBC′s upcoming talent competition series GREASE: YOU′RE THE ONE THAT I WANT, which will premiere Sunday, January 7. Bush will be joined by co-host United Kingdom TV personality and theatre star, Denise Van Outen, as the series searches for the next Sandy and Danny to headline the new Broadway production of the hit musical GREASE. The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
"Billy is the perfect host for GREASE," said Plestis. "He is one of the most experienced and talented live TV hosts around today and will have great chemistry with Denise, who brings a wealth of theater knowledge to the show."
Bush is co-anchor of "Access Hollywood," the daily entertainment newsmagazine currently in its 11th season. He joined the program as East Coast Correspondent in December 2001, and was promoted to co-anchor in June 2004. In addition to his on-air duties at "Access Hollywood," Bush covered the red carpet for the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys and Grammys, and hosted ABC′s live pre-show for the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Academy Awards.
British TV host and West End actress Van Outen played Roxie Hart in the hit musical "Chicago" on the West End in London selling out all performances of her incredible 20-week run. She reprised the role on Broadway where again she was a sell-out. In 2003, Denise continued her winning streak on the London stage and starred in a revival of Andrew Lloyd-Webber′s "Tell Me On a Sunday," which was re-written especially for her. The show was hugely successful running for nearly a year before going on a 10-month tour around the U.K. in 2004. Denise got her big break as a TV host in 1997 when she joined the U.K.′s hit morning show "The Big Breakfast." More recently, Denise has resumed her TV career, securing a lead role in the ITV drama "Where The Heart Is" and co-hosting the hit morning show "This Morning" in 2005.
NBC will search for the next Sandy and Danny in GREASE: YOU′RE THE ONE THAT I WANT, a new talent competition series from BBC Worldwide Productions scheduled to debut early next year where America will ultimately get to choose the two leads for a new Broadway production of GREASE. The new production of GREASE will open on Broadway in June 2007 and will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall ("The Pajama Game"), who will also be a judge on the TV series along with Jim Jacobs, the co-creator of GREASE and renowned theatre producer David Ian. Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce the musical.
The final stop on the show′s casting search will take place on Friday, November 10 in Los Angeles at Venice High School ("Rydell High"). For more information on casting, visit NBC.com for details.
