‘PEEL’ HITS THE HIGH SEAS FOR NEW SKY 1 REALITY PROGRAMME ‘SHOWBOATERS’ (07/09/2011)
Yorkshire-based company, The PEEL Entertainment Group, which produces all live entertainment for Thomson’s fleet of cruise ships, is set for stardom this autumn, as Sky1HD’s brand-new reality television programme ‘Showboaters’ gets ready to hit our screens.
Tricky trio, pictured: PEEL Cruise Director Stephen Guy, PEEL Casting Director Mollie Daley and PEEL Director of Choreography Nicky Alexander make up the panel of judges on the new Sky1HD show
The new talent show sees ten amateur entertainers, battle it out on board Thomson’s flagship cruise ship ‘Thomson Dream’ in front of a team of PEEL entertainment experts, the resident PEEL show team…and the all important passengers! The lucky winner, who will be revealed at the end of the series, will win a place with the ship’s prestigious entertainment troupe this winter, as it sets sail around the beautiful islands of the Caribbean.
Filmed earlier this year by ‘Fresh One’, the production company owned by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, ‘Showboaters’ is set to make stars of its three judges: Stephen Guy, Mollie Daley and Nicky Alexander. The feisty trio has been billed as the Seven Seas answer to Simon Cowell and co. and all three can be seen giving their no-holds-barred opinions on the sometimes questionable talents of each contestant.
Stephen, 37 who attended Newcastle Centre for Performing Arts with one half of comedy duo Ant ‘n’ Dec, Ant McPartlin, has worked with PEEL for the last 12 years and was Senior Cruise Director on board the Thomson Dream this summer.
Meanwhile showbiz veteran Mollie, 70 of Keighley, West Yorkshire, is PEEL’s Casting Director – responsible for the commissioning and auditioning of all potential entertainers. She has also been credited by Amanda Cable of the Daily Mail for making Simon Cowell look like a ‘pussycat’!
Helping her in PEEL’s thorough audition process is Scotsman Nicky Alexander, who has over 20 years experience as a dancer and 15 years as a choreographer.
Contestants battling it out for the all important cruise-contract, include a 56 year old hairdresser and a 21 year old steelworker. As well as performing their hearts out each week in front of the critical eyes of the passengers and judges, the wannabe entertainers can also be seen adapting to life on board a luxury cruise ship.
Stephen, Mollie and Nicky whittled ten performers down to just four, as they went on to compete for the star prize in a nail-biting final which will form part of the show’s final episode.
PEEL Managing Director Susannah Daley said: “Here at PEEL we are incredibly proud of the award-winning entertainment we provide across Thomson’s fleet of cruise ships - so when Fresh One approached us about using our work as a premise for a new television talent show we were thrilled to be involved.
Hopefully it will give viewers an insight into how tough, but exciting life as a cruise ship entertainer can be. All of our productions are of a West End standard and we won’t accept anything but the very best dancers, singers and actors. To be involved in such a high profile Sky 1 project has just been a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to watch Mollie, Stephen, Nicky and the rest of the show-team on TV!”
Showboaters will premiere on Sky1 HD on Tuesday 13 September at 8pm. It will be shown every Tuesday until the grand final on Tuesday 01 November at 8pm, where the winner will be unveiled!
For all the latest news, gossip and behind-the-scenes information check out www.skyshowboaters.com follow us on Twitter @SkyShowboaters or like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/PeelTalentShowboaters.
