Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream aired on ITV last night and the brand new entertainment show certainly got viewers talking.
But maybe not in a great way. While many loved the Abba-themed show, others wasted no time in complaining.
In case you missed it, the show saw 14 of the nation’s most talented musical theatre hopefuls head off to gorgeous Greece. And when we say the scenery was breathtaking… it was simply dreamy!
The hopefuls will be competing for the lead roles of Sophie and Sky in the West End production of Mamma Mia!.
But what did ITV viewers think of the new show? Let’s find out…
Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream on ITV
The ITV programme seemed to be the love child of Love Island and The X Factor. It saw the hopefuls perform and show what they’ve got to the four judges – comedian Alan Carr, vocalist Amber Riley, theatre performer Samantha Barks and singer Jessie Ware.
Meanwhile, Zoe Ball hosted the glitzy show. It all started off on a great foot, but it wasn’t long before some complaints came rolling in from viewers.
From box ticking to the choice of judges, it seems aspects of the show didn’t go down too well.
Choice of judges – questions over Alan Carr
The first complaint made by some viewers was the judging line-up. One person wrote: “As for the #MammaMia judges, I get Samantha Barks and Amber Riley, they’ve both done West End theatre, but I’ve never heard of ‘pop star’ Jessie Ware and whilst I love Alan Carr?”
Another added: “The judges are being far too kind considering it’s blatantly obvious several are wrong for the parts.”
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: “I like Alan Carr as a presenter…but I really don’t get the decision to make him a judge on this show.”
Others seemed to have the same questions about Alan – why was he on the show. One asked: “Ok, so I get Amber Riley – yes, Jessie Ware – yes, Samantha Barks – yes… but Alan Carr?? I don’t get it?”
Another said: “Not sure what Alan Carr got to do with musicals?”
Someone else added: “@mammamiadream why is Alan Carr a judge when @JohnBarrowman is needed?”
Another wrote: “OMG how has Alan Carr got experience of the West End shows? Mama Mia? Not needed.”
Box ticking?
Some other viewers accused the show of ‘ticking boxes’. They thought that some of the contestants weren’t necessarily picked for their voices…
One person said: “Given that we didn’t see the auditions, I can’t help but think the finalists were chosen more for ‘ticking boxes’ purposes rather than their voices.”
Someone else claimed: “No way most of these were the best out of thousands of auditions just tick the diversity box to get through.”
Too much screaming on ITV show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream?
Of course, the contestants were over the moon to be in Greece and performing on a Mamma Mia-inspired set. Who wouldn’t be?!
But it seems their excitement began grating on some viewers. Many complained about the amount of screaming! One said: “Sorry, but I turned off after 20 mins as too much screaming & not enough real singing!”
Another wrote: “We lasted a full 5 minutes of the new #mammamia programme. All the screeching made it like a 2nd rate cross between X Factor judges’ houses and Love Island.”
A third complained: “I didn’t make it as far as the singing, the screaming at the start was too much to bear. Turned off.”
Tough crowd, eh?
Zoe Ball
Now poor Zoe didn’t escape the criticism online as some took issue with her outfit choice! Channelling Meryl Streep’s outfit for character Donna from the Mamma Mia movie, Zoe opted for a pair of dunagrees.
One person tweeted: “I honestly think they edited the footage so we didn’t have chance to take in the true awfulness of Zoe Ball’s dungarees.” Ouch!
Others took issue with her hosting. One said: “It’s already annoying me. What a twee little show. Even Zoe Ball is annoying me.”
Another added: “I’m not sure so far, this hasnt won we over. Zoe Ball doing my head in.”
Me at 11:59am when the All-Inclusive buffet opens at 12pm #MammaMiaDream pic.twitter.com/qnWEE9VYJq
— Jet2tweets (@jet2tweets) October 22, 2023
Jet 2 music…
The show was sponsored by Jet 2. Which meant one thing. The return of Jess Glynne’s song Hold My Hand – the song the company uses for their adverts as well as flights.
And if you’ve ever been on a Jet 2 flight, you know it’s the last thing you want to hear on repeat. Especially when you’re coming home from your holiday!
Viewers thought the same as one tweeted: “If Jet2 are sponsoring #MammaMiaDream that means we’ve got to listen to that [bleep] Jess Glynne song for the whole series.” Yup.
Another added: “Jess Glynne Jet 2 ads haunting the new Mamma Mia series is nightmarish.”
Adverts
Other viewers believed the show was interrupted by too many adverts! One complained: “@ITV killing @MammaMiaMusical TV show with all these adverts!!!”
Another wrote: “@ITV @mammamiadream surely you’re taking the [bleep] with the adverts tonight.”
Someone else ranted: “Too many adverts – which accounts for why this show is so bloody long.”
BUT. There were plenty of viewers who loved the new show. One gushed: “Love love LOVE this! #mammamiadream.”
Another added: “Ahh I love it! Such a good fun, entertaining, family friendly show, and it’s Mamma Mia. I mean, what is there not to like.”
Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream continues this Sunday from 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
What did you think of the show? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page EntertainmentDailyFix and then let us know.