Viewers of Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream were baffled by the choice of judges for the show as he first episode aired on Sunday.
The ITV show sees 14 hopefuls compete to be cast as Sophie and Sky in a new West End adaptation of the Mamma Mia movie.
Named after the iconic ABBA song and filmed on the Greek island of Corfu over eight weeks, the contestants live in a Greek villa as they take part in the competition.
Seven boys and seven girls will have to impress judges singer Jessie Ware, comedian Alan Carr, Frozen star Samantha Barks and Glee’s Amber Riley.
But, while people watching at home could understand why Samantha and Amber had been booked for the judging gig, they were less sure about Alan and Jessie.
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 1 The panel: Viewers of Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream were baffled by the choice of judges for the show as he first episode aired on Sunday (L-R: Samantha Barks, Alan Carr, Amber Riley and Jessie Ware)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866653-12659581-image-a-42_1698001489672.jpg)
The panel: Viewers of Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream were baffled by the choice of judges for the show as he first episode aired on Sunday (L-R: Samantha Barks, Alan Carr, Amber Riley and Jessie Ware)
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 3 Competition: The ITV show sees 14 hopefuls compete to impress the judges in a bid to be cast as Sophie and Sky in a new West End adaptation of the Mamma Mia movie (L-R: Amber, Samantha, Jessie and Alan)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866651-12659581-image-a-43_1698001494669.jpg)
Competition: The ITV show sees 14 hopefuls compete to impress the judges in a bid to be cast as Sophie and Sky in a new West End adaptation of the Mamma Mia movie (L-R: Amber, Samantha, Jessie and Alan)
Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: ‘As for the #MammaMia judges, I get Samantha Barks and Amber Riley, they’ve both done West End theatre, but I’ve never heard of “pop star” Jessie Ware and whilst I love Alan Carr?’
Someone else posted: ‘Ok, so I get Amber Riley – yes, Jessie Ware – yes, Samantha Barks – yes…but Alan Carr?? I don’t get it?
‘I love Alan as a comedian but he has nothing to bring to the judging panel? Very bizarre choice.’
‘Swap Alan Carr (why, seriously) for Elaine Paige, and then we have a dream! #MammaMia #IHaveADream,’ commented another viewer.
While someone else remarked: ‘Get all the judge choices bar Alan Carr.’
Another viewer posted: ‘Amber Riley & Samantha Barks… I get. Jesse Ware & Alan Carr… Not so sure.
‘But I’m living for it either way. #MammaMia.’
Someone else noted: ‘#IHaveADream talented industry judges… And Alan Carr.’
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![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 19 Views: While people watching at home could understand why Samantha and Amber had been booked for the judging gig, they were less sure about Alan and Jessie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866935-12659581-image-a-73_1698002242583.jpg)
Views: While people watching at home could understand why Samantha and Amber had been booked for the judging gig, they were less sure about Alan and Jessie
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 21 Living the dream: Named after the iconic ABBA song and filmed on the Greek island of Corfu over eight weeks, the contestants live in a Greek villa as they take part in the competition (L-R: contestants Stephanie and Maddy pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866921-12659581-image-a-74_1698002466516.jpg)
Living the dream: Named after the iconic ABBA song and filmed on the Greek island of Corfu over eight weeks, the contestants live in a Greek villa as they take part in the competition (L-R: contestants Stephanie and Maddy pictured)
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 23 Challenged: The contestants were seen being put through their paces in high energy choreographed dancing and musical numbers to ABBA songs on Sunday (L-R: contestants Tobias, Craig and Marcellus)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866917-12659581-image-a-76_1698002477087.jpg)
Challenged: The contestants were seen being put through their paces in high energy choreographed dancing and musical numbers to ABBA songs on Sunday (L-R: contestants Tobias, Craig and Marcellus)
Taking a more positive view on Alan and Jessie, another viewer wrote: ‘I’m veryyy here for jessie ware and alan carr together, but that’s about it so far.’
And someone else shared: ‘The judges are so great together. Obsessed with Alan & Jessie together, too.’
The contestants were seen being put through their paces in high energy choreographed dancing and musical numbers to ABBA songs.
Opening the show, host Zoe Ball said: ‘Greece, beautiful island, sun and sea, and the home of the iconic Mamma Mia.
‘We’re here to find out who will become the next iconic Sophie and Sky in the West End.
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 25 Success: All the hopefuls made it through to the second episode as no one was eliminated this week (L-R: show host Zoe Ball and contestants Marcellus, Tobias, Craig, Darcy, Callum, Owen, Zachkiel, Maisie, Stevie, Desmonda, Maddy, Stephanie, Leah and Esme)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866919-12659581-image-a-77_1698002481754.jpg)
Success: All the hopefuls made it through to the second episode as no one was eliminated this week (L-R: show host Zoe Ball and contestants Marcellus, Tobias, Craig, Darcy, Callum, Owen, Zachkiel, Maisie, Stevie, Desmonda, Maddy, Stephanie, Leah and Esme)
‘But who has what it takes?’
Contestants Desmonda, Esme, Leah, Maddy, Maisie, Stephanie and Stevie, and Callum, Craig, Darcy, Marcellus, Owen, Tobias and Zachkiel will all battle it out throughout the series.
All the hopefuls made it through to the second episode as no one was eliminated this week.
Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream continues on Sunday 29 October at 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
![Mamma Mia! "I Have a Dream" Leaves Viewers Confused with a Puzzling Twist in Show as 14 Contestants Vie for Star Role in West End's Smash Hit Adaptation 27 Back again: Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream continues on Sunday 29 October at 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX (L-R: judges Alan and Jessie, host Zoe, and judges Amber and Samantha)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/22/20/76866915-12659581-image-a-79_1698002499266.jpg)
Back again: Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream continues on Sunday 29 October at 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX (L-R: judges Alan and Jessie, host Zoe, and judges Amber and Samantha)