CENTRE STAGE Chris Jaeger of Worcester Live

10:25am Friday 4th April 2008

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As I write this column, I am still getting over the shock of Amy (Genie in Aladdin at the Swan Theatre) being the first out of the last 12 of the search to find a Nancy for the West End. To be honest, deep in my heart, I didn't think she was going to win but nothing prepared me for her being the first to go.

I felt there were at least three or four girls who should have gone before her - two of whom were quite poor in comparison with the rest. You begin to wonder if Amy was discriminated against for her marked Brummie accent.

Although I'm really sorry to see her go and I know that Amy is very disappointed, I am at least pleased for two reasons. One, I think it is such a cruel and shattering process that I believe she is well out of it. Not only do you have to sing again if you come in the bottom two and then get judged by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but if you lose, you then have to sing out the show. That is cruel!

And the second reason - I won't have to watch it any more. As I said a couple of weeks ago, I hate the whole genre.

l Chris Jaeger is chief executive of Worcester Live.