The PEEL Entertainment Group (PEEL), which produces all the live entertainment for Thomson’s fleet of cruise ships, is set for stardom this autumn, as Sky1’s brand-new reality television programme ‘Showboaters’ gets ready to hit our screens.
The new talent show sees ten amateur entertainers battle it out on-board Thomson’s flagship cruise liner ‘Dream’ in front of a team of PEEL experts and resident show team. The lucky winner 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 all three will be seen giving their no-holds-barred opinions on the sometimes questionable talents contestants.
Stephen, who attended Newcastle Centre for Performing Arts with one half of the comedy duo Ant and Dec, has been employed by PEEL for the last 12 years and was Cruise Director on-board the Thomson Dream during the filming.
Meanwhile showbiz veteran Mollie is PEEL’s Casting Director – responsible for the commissioning and auditioning of all potential entertainers. Helping her in PEEL’s thorough audition process is Nicky Alexander, Director of Choreography who has over 20 years experience as a dancer.
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 also had to integrate themselves into all aspects of life on-board a top 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 finale.
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 Sky1 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 be on Sky1HD from 13 September at 8pm, and the winner will be revealed in the final episode. Check out www.peelentertainment.com or follow @DreamShowboater on Twitter for all the latest news, gossip and behind-the-scenes information from judges and contestants.
