Tamzin Outhwaite (Don’t Stop Believing) interview

Five’s nnew live entertainment show Don’t Stop Believing kicks off in July, with former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite among the judges.

The show has scoured Britain for existing and first time musical groups created by friends, colleagues, school mates or families, to discover the nation’s greatest musical performance groups. The groups will be choreographed, coached and judged by industry experts with five live elimination shows culminating in a thrilling final.


You're currently wowing West End audiences in eight performances a week of Sweet Charity - with such a busy schedule, why did you decided to join the Don’t Stop believing judging panel?

“The musical theatre element was the main attraction for me. When you have become hooked on musical theatre as I have it is like a book that is very difficult to put down. What is good about this show is that these are groups that have got together through am drams, or they are people who have known each other for ages and just want to be involved. For me the pull is to watch people who are singing and dancing at the same time. The buzz is watching a group like that come together.”

As a judge, what do you think is essential for the groups to shine?

“Whatever form of group you are, from two to ten to fifty people, the song has to tell a story even if it is a shallow story it still has to be told. So, for me it is not just the singing, harmonies and the choreography. The main piece of advice I would give would to be listen to the words and tell the story of the song.”

What are you own musical tastes like?

“I like everything from songs in musicals to hip-hop. My favourites are from way back from the motown and soul era like Al Green, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye right through to Snoop Dogg now. It would be difficult to keep yourself to one style of music in this competition. I was listening to Paloma Faith last night and she sounded amazing and there are lots of new people who are doing it for me as well.”

Although you're most famous for playing Mel in EastEnders, you have a long history in theatre...

“I did eight years of musical theatre before going into EastEnders and then I did EastEnders from 1998 to 2002 and television right through to 2009 so almost 10 years doing lots of different things and then I started doing musical theatre again in 2009. I had to polish up the singing and dancing and start again like a rusty old engine!"

Do you cope with the gruelling schedule of Sweet Charity?

“I am staying fit at the moment by doing eight shows a week and sometimes after the show I can’t eat enough and am completely ravenous. It is the first time in my life that I have not had to worry about my weight!”


Don’t Stop Believing airs at 7pm on Sundays from 18th July 2010.