Gordon's WebLog

September 16th 2006, Connie Fisher's life changed forever.

It was the night she won BBC Television's "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" contest, securing her life-long dream - to play the lead role in a West End Musical.

From thousands of hopeful singers, just ten young ladies (Connie, Helena, Siobham, Abi, Aoife, Belinda, Laura, Leanne, Meliz and Simona) were selected to appear in the televised knockout competition in front of judges David Ian (co-producer of "The Sound of Music") John Barrowman (ex Doctor Who), Zoe Tyler (vocal coach) and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (writer of the show and co-producer). Each week the ten hopefuls sang live on air, but each week one was eliminated until only four remained for the final, with bubbly Connie finally winning.

And so Connie was off to the London Paladium to start a hectic round of rehearsals as Maria in "The Sound of Music". Not everything went according to plan during the rehearsals as her understudy resigned, and her leading man was replaced with just one week to go before the opening night.

Connie was delighted to win the competition. "I feel on top of the world, thanks very much. I won't let you down. Every night will be an opening night. Thanks for making my dreams come true." And certainly the audience and theatre critics acclaimed her performance