Kevin SpaceyKevin Spacey has complained about the BBC’s love of talent shows to find new West End stars.

BBC1’s new show I’d Do Anything started last month with the aim to find unknown performers to play the part of Nancy and the title role in a new London production of Oliver! - following previous shows finding performers for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Sound of Music, all “masterminded” by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Kevin, the artistic director of the Old Vic theatre, has said the shows are “essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical” when other theatre productions are struggling: “Where’s our 13-week programme? When are they going to do one about a play?”

“I’ve spoken to the BBC chairman and he’s yet to get back to me.”