Jodie Prenger

Infobox actor
name = Jodie Prenger


imagesize = 150px
caption =
birthname = Jodie Prenger
birthdate = birth date and age|1979|6|12|df=yes
birthplace = Blackpool, Lancashire, England
othername =
occupation = Actress, Singer
yearsactive = 2006–present
spouse =
domesticpartner = Steve Greengrass (2008–) (engaged)
children =
awards =

Jodie Prenger (born 12 June 1979 in Blackpool, Lancashire) is an English actress and singer. She was the winner of BBC talent show-themed television series "I'd Do Anything" on 31 May, 2008.cite news
title = Nancy Contestants - Jodie
publisher = BBC
date =2008-03-22
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/contestants/nancy/jodie.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-09 ] She was also the winner of the second series of "The Biggest Loser" on Living in 2006.

Background

Prenger was educated at Elmslie Girls School in Blackpoolcite news
last = Gomm
first=Elizabeth
title= Singing for Blackpool!
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-05-30
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Singing-for-Blackpool.4133852.jp
accessdate= 2008-05-30] and Blackpool and The Fylde College before starting work in the area as an entertainer.cite news
title= Blackpool's famous faces
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-04-29
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/entertainment-news/Blackpool39s-famous-faces.4030358.jp
accessdate= 2008-06-01] She has performed extensively on the cabaret circuit in Northern England and particularly her hometown of Blackpool and Fylde coast where she has also worked as an Agony Aunt. In June 1998 she appeared in two different shows each night in two Blackpool theatres. First she had a solo spot in the "Tiptoes Summer Spectacular" at the resorts Opera House theatre before appearing 20 minute later in one of the principal roles in a Blackpool and The Fylde College production of the musical comedy, "Hot Mikado" at the Grand Theatre.cite news
last = Gomm
first=Elizabeth
title= Making of our Nancy
work= Eve Magazine
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-06-03
accessdate= 2008-06-03]

Her first appearance on television came in 1999 when she appeared on "A Taste for Travel" on Granada Television alongside her mother. In 2000 she took part in the Dale Winton show "The Other Half" on BBC1 in which she had to pretend to be the wife of boxer, Chris Eubank. Later that year she played the role of the good witch Hurricane in a non-skating role in "Halloween Spectacular On Ice" at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. In 2001 she spent eight months as one of four principals in a team of 19 entertainers aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship.

"The Biggest Loser"

Prenger won the second series of "The Biggest Loser" in 2006, starting the show a size 26 and weighing 18st 2lbs. During the series, she lost over eight stone and her final weight was 9st 9lbs and slimmed down to a size 10 before settling at a size 14/16.cite news
last = Neil
first = Beth
title = I'd Do Anything star Jodie Prenger's sexy secrets
publisher = Daily Mirror
date =2008-04-12
url =http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/04/12/i-d-do-anything-star-jodie-prenger-s-sexy-secrets-89520-20380283
accessdate =2008-05-09 ] She won £25,000 for winning the series.cite news
title= £25,000 prize for top TV loser Jodie
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2007-01-09
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/25000-prize-for-top-TV.1962883.jp
accessdate= 2008-05-31]

"I'd Do Anything"

Prenger was the winner of "I'd Do Anything", announced on 31 May, 2008, and she will now go on to play Nancy in a West End revival of the British musical "Oliver!" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Prenger attended auditions for the show in Manchester in January 2008, and made it through to the final 42 at "Nancy School"cite news
last= Gomm
first=Elizabeth
title= Blackpool girl bids for BBC stardom
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-03-18
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Blackpool-girl-bids-for-BBC.3887328.jp
accessdate= 2008-06-01] from where she was eventually chosen as one of the twelve finalists to perform in the lives shows each week.

After her performance of "Chasing Pavements" in the first live show of the series, Prenger was installed as the joint favourite to win. Panelist John Barrowman said, "I love you to death, you connected with everyone and told the story – that's Nancy!" Denise Van Outen said "Nancy needs to have a lot of life experience and I see that coming through in your performance. It was brilliant". Barry Humphries who had played Fagin in the original Lionel Bart stage production, said "You've got that toughness and also a tenderness. A beautiful performance." And head judge Andrew Lloyd Webber said that Jodie could "absolutely play this role."cite news
title= Blackpool girl Jodie is BBC favourite
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-04-01
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Blackpool-girl-Jodie-is-BBC.3931826.jp
accessdate= 2008-05-09]

In Week five Barry Humphries said that Prenger was "destined for the West End",cite news
title = Reviewing the Situation, Week Five Result: Who were this week's leading ladies?
publisher = BBC
date =2008-04-27
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/04/27/54593.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-09 ] and in Week Eight John Barrowman labelled Prenger his "perfect Nancy".cite news
title = Reviewing the Situation, Which Nancys will make it through to the semi final?
publisher = BBC
date =2008-05-16
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/17/54971.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-30 ]

In the week leading up to the final in week ten, the Nancy finalists posed for publicity pictures recreating some of Madonna's iconic images. Prenger posed in a wedding dress to recreate the cover of the album "Like a Virgin".cite news
last = Roberts
first = Laura
title = The Nancies as you've never seen them before: I'd Do Anything trio pose as Madonna
publisher = The Daily Mail
date =2008-05-27
url =http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1022012/The-Nancies-youve-seen-Id-Do-Anything-trio-pose-Madonna.html
accessdate =2008-05-27] She was also installed as the favourite to win the show. On 30 May, Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that Theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh, who will be producing the show in the West End, and who joined the panel in week nine, was concerned about her curvaceous figure saying, "Cameron thinks she is a bit too big and has more or less said so". However, Webber defended Prenger, saying that she had both the vocal talents and personality for the role, saying "Jodie could be anybody's idea of Nancy - I can see it absolutely. She has got a lovely voice and a super personality. She has experience as well."cite news
last = Fletcher
first = Alex
title = Webber: 'Cameron doesn't want big Nancy'
publisher = Digital Spy
date =2008-05-27
url =http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a97091/webber-cameron-doesnt-want-big-nancy.html
accessdate =2008-05-27]

In the Final on 31 May Prenger performed a total number of seven songs including her performance of "As Long as He Needs Me" after she was announced as winner. She also performed "I'd Do Anything" with all the Nancy and Oliver finalists; "Son of a Preacher Man"; "Getting To Know You" from the musical "The King and I" with Laurence ; "Maybe This Time" from the film "Cabaret" with Jessie Buckley and Samantha Barks as well as also singing "As Long as he Needs Me" and "I Have Nothing" from "A Star Is Born" before the final vote.

Cameron Mackintosh said about her performance of "Son of a Preacher Man", "Jodie has convinced me that she could make a Nancy. You absolutely deserve to be in the final." John Barrowman said, "every song she sings, you believe the words. I look forward to the day I can guest star with you on the West End stage!" and Andrew Lloyd Webber said, "that was a very, very, very good performance. You have an outsize talent, and a very strong voice, but I dont know if its going to be enough tonight, but it might be."cite news
title = The Live Final: How the voting will work on Saturday
publisher = BBC
date =2008-05-30
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/30/55294.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-30]

In Show two Prenger performed her favourite song from the series, "I Have Nothing". After she was announced as the winner, Prenger said, "You have genuinely given me my dream, I can't actually put into words how I feel. I'm so grateful and so chuffed. I'm just Jodie from Blackpool and to be here is my dream." Andrew Lloyd Webber said, "The people's Nancy. Jodie was always going to be the people's choice," adding " I think people love her, they love her open personality. I think they relate to that personality and I think that's what makes her Nancy for the public. Her strengths are her personality and her very, very strong voice." And Cameron Mackintosh said, "I'm thrilled for Jodie, congratulations!" adding, "She is obviously the public's view of what they want to see as Nancy. She'll give a terrific performance and I really look forward to putting her into training and getting her into rehearsals."cite news
last=Kilkelly
first=Daniel
title=Jodie Prenger wins 'I'd Do Anything'
publisher=Digital Spy
date=2008-06-01
url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a97186/jodie-prenger-wins-id-do-anything.html
accessdate=2008-06-01] cite news
title = Reviewing the Situation: Final Results, Jodie is Nancy!
publisher = BBC
date =2008-05-31
url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/news/2008/05/31/55312.shtml
accessdate =2008-05-31 ]

Prenger revealed on The Graham Norton Show a week later; that when her name was called out as the winner, she urinated slightly and had to perform "As Long as He Needs Me" with wet underwear. [cite episode|title= The Graham Norton Show|episodelink= The Graham Norton Show#Series 3|series=The Graham Norton Show|network= BBC 2|airdate= 2008-06-05|season= 3|number= 8]

Performances on I'd Do Anything

*Please note this is a list of her individual performances only

Oliver!

In June 2008 it was confirmed that Prenger will be performing six of the eight weekly shows of Oliver! when it opens at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 12 December, 2008. She is scheduled to perform on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Friday evenings and both the matinee and evening shows each Saturday. Meanwhile, Prenger will be appearing in the ensemble in "Les Miserables (musical)" at the Queen's Theatre from 26th August 2008 in order to give her some experience of performing in the West End. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7574359.stm Accessed 22nd August 2008]

After "I'd Do Anything"

After winning "I'd Do Anything" she was given a Civic Reception in her hometown of Blackpool on 7 June, 2008, with a specially erected stage in front of the Town Hall where she performed several songs from Oliver!.cite news
last = Hyde
first= Nick
title= Ticket rush to see new West End star Jodie
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-06-12
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Ticket-rush-to-see-new.4176716.jp
accessdate= 2008-06-12] On 24 August 2008 she performed in a "Music Under the Stars" event at the annual Faenol Festival held near Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, north Wales.cite news
last = Powell
first= David
title= Bryn Terfel looking forward to Faenol Festival
publisher= Daily Post
date= 2008-08-22
url= http://www.dailypost.co.uk/leisure/entertainment-news/2008/08/22/bryn-terfel-looking-forward-to-faenol-festival-55578-21583434/
accessdate= 2008-08-26] cite press release
title= West End 'Underworld' and Welsh Mafia join Faenol Festival line up
publisher= Faenol Festival
date= 2008-07-15
format = PDF
url= http://www.brynfest.com/downloads/july_press.pdf
accessdate= 2008-08-26]

Personal life

Prenger is engaged to her boyfriend, Steve Greengrass, who proposed to her after the Saturday show in week three of "I'd Do Anything" on 12 April, 2008; a whirlwind romance which was featured throughout the series as their first date, some three months earlier had been Prenger's audition in Manchester.cite news
title= Blackpool TV star set to wed
publisher= Blackpool Gazette
date= 2008-04-14
url= http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Blackpool-TV-star-set-to.3978855.jp
accessdate= 2008-06-01]

References

External links

* [http://www.jodieprenger.tv Official website]
*imdb name|id=2978297|name=Jodie Prenger
* [http://www.oliverthemusical.com/ "Oliver!" website]
* [http://www.lesmis.com/ "Les Miserables" website]