Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream viewers compare the reality show to Love Island
Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream began tonight on ITV, leaving fans comparing it to another popular reality show.
The competition sees 14 musical theatre hopefuls vying for roles as Sophie and Sky in the hit West End production as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Whittled down from thousands, the contestants arrived on the Greek islands where the film was shot in tonight's episode. They performed for the first time in front of presenter Zoe Ball as well as the all-star judging panel including comedian Alan Carr, Glee star Amber Riley, singer Jessie Ware, and Frozen stage show icon Samantha Barks.
The first instalment of the show saw the male and female contestants meet each other in their picturesque villa, with Sky hopeful Darcy even proclaiming one of the girls had caught his eye.
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With love seemingly in the air and a villa housing this year's contestants, fans couldn't help but draw comparisons between the new show and hit ITV reality programme Love Island.
"Twelve seconds in, and I'm already thinking this Mamma Mia dross is going to foster more successful relationships than Love Island," one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"So it's one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's talent shows meets Love Island…." another wrote, with a different user responding with a comparison to another reality show. "With a good dose of X-Factor judges houses thrown into the mix for good measure," she said.
Others compared it to watching Love Island with music, with one person posting: "Watching the Abba thing on catch up. It's already annoying me. What a twee little show. Even Zoe Ball is annoying me. They should have searched for the parents instead. This has got way too much of a Love Island vibe".
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Radio presenter Ball described the show as "fabulous escapism", saying in a statement: "It's going out when the nights have drawn in and we all wish we were away on holiday. Then you've got the drama of these fabulous 14 whose dream it is to be on the West End and they are all so gorgeous.
"I kind of fell in love with all of them really, and I'm hoping the audience will too."
Mamma Mia! The Musical creator and producer Judy Craymer also features in the show, sharing her feedback with the contestants each week.
Speaking ahead of the show airing, she said: "It's not just a talent show, it's a never-seen-before behind-the-scenes look at a world-class musical theatre training programme. And that's important because it goes beyond the TV show – whoever wins will be working in the West End."
Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream airs at 6pm on ITV1 each Sunday.
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