The National Lottery event has returned to BBC One for its fifth year
BBC’s The Big Night of Musicals returned to BBC One tonight with host Jason Manford(Image: BBC)
BBC One viewers all said the same thing just minutes in to The Big Night of Musicals as the popular event returned to screens for its fifth year.
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals made a comeback on Saturday, March 28 on BBC One with comedian Jason Manford reprising his role as host. This year, fans were treated to special and well known performances from some of the UK’s biggest West End and touring productions such as from The Lion King and Wicked.
Also taking to the stage were familiar faces such as Eurovision star Sam Ryder in a world first as he delivered an incredible performance from Jesus Christ Superstar ahead of his debut in the show this summer. X Factor’s Alexandra Burke was also set to take to the stage as Chaka Khan in I’m Every Woman.
BBC’s The Big Night of Musicals kicked off with a special performance from The Lion King(Image: BBC)
Airing on BBC One at 7.45pm, it had been teased: “Back for a fifth year and filmed in front of an audience of 12,000 at Manchester’s AO Arena, the show brings together some of the biggest and most exciting productions currently on stage alongside exclusive previews of shows opening this year and unique one-off collaborations created especially for the night.”
Just minutes into the show viewers said the same thing as they took to social media to share their excitement.
Taking to X, one person said: “Hooray they’ve gone back to the original show and not showing clips.” Another wrote: “Been looking forward to this #BigNightofMusicals.”
A third added: “#bignightofmusicals I defy anyone who says they don’t get musical theatre to watch #thelionking and not be moved.”
The Big Night of Musicals also saw Sam Ryder for a world first performance(Image: BBC)
A fourth commented: “I’ve waited a very long time to watch #BigNightOfMusicals, it’s finally here!!”
One person replied: “Love Big Night Of Musicals on BBC1 but I’m in floods of tears as they started with Lion King. Great one this time as I’ve seen most of the shows on tonight’s one.”
Another echoed: “Fuming I didn’t get tickets for The Big Night Of Musicals this year because Lion King would’ve had me sobbing.”
One BBC viewer said: “I love Big Night of Musicals” as another added: “#BigNightOfMusicals is pure joy. Love it!”
The show kicked off with a special performance from The Lion King, leaving viewers in tears, before moving on to Oliver the musical as well as The Producers starring Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin.
Big Night of Musicals is available on BBC iPlayer