Mel Giedroyc Joins The Cast Of ITV's 'The Sound Of Music Live!'

‘The Great British Bake-Off’ co-presenter Mel Giedroyc has been unveiled as one of the stars of the upcoming live TV special ‘The Sound of Music Live!’, set to air this Christmas.

The presenter, comedian and actress will be playing Frau Schmidt in ITV’s live adaptation of the extremely popular musical in December. She joins the previously confirmed star Kara Tointon, who is holding down the central role of Maria opposite former ‘Downton Abbey’ star Julian Ovenden, who’ll be playing Captain Georg von Trapp.

This two-and-a-half hour live special is set to be based on the original 1959 stage musical, in turn inspired by the real life events surrounding the Von Trapp Family singers (an Austrian choral group) and the memoir of Maria von Trapp.

As well as the ‘Mr Selfridge’ star Tointon, ITV seems to be in the process of assembling a star-studded cast for ‘The Sound of Music Live!’ Alexander Armstrong, presenter of ‘Pointless’, was also added some time ago as Max Detweiler, and former ‘Coronation Street’ actress Katherine Kelly will be playing Baroness Elsa Schraeder.

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Upon being cast, Tointon had said: “I’m thrilled and excited to be taking on the iconic role of Maria in 'The Sound of Music Live!'. I’m looking forward to bringing this character to life for ITV viewers and to follow in the footsteps of some great actresses who have played Maria on stage and film.”

Olivier Award-winning actress Maria Friedman, who can currently be seen as Elaine Peacock in ‘EastEnders’, is also set to feature as Mother Abbess. Other new additions to the cast include another Olivier Award winner, Paul Topley, as well as Evelyn Hoskins as Liesl von Trapp and Jon Tarcy.

The production will be broadcast live from London’s Three Mills Studios on a date yet to be confirmed. Rehearsals have already begun under the direction of BAFTA-nominated Coky Giedroyc – Mel’s sister – who has previously worked on ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Oliver Twist’.

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