The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals - Full Line Up Announced
The much-anticipated National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals made its return in January 2025 for the fourth time, and the incredible celebration of musical theatre is set to be broadcast on BBC 1. This annual event, hosted by comedian and musical theatre star Jason Manford, features live performances from some of the biggest shows in the West End and beyond.
Jason Manford will host the show
Free Tickets and Highlights from the Show
In a special thank you to National Lottery players, 12,000 free tickets were made available on a first-come, first-served basis for the live event at the AO Arena Manchester on January 27, 2025. For those who missed out on being in the audience, there’s great news: highlights from the show will be broadcast on BBC 1 at 6.50pm on Saturday, 22 March 2025.
Musical Performances on The Big Night of Musicals
The show features incredible performances from 10 musicals, including:
Calamity Jane, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher
Dear Evan Hansen, the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical
Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell The Musical (UK tour)
Here & Now – The Steps Musical
A performance from the West End’s Mean Girls
A sneak peek of Hercules, a brand-new show from Disney
A Thank You to National Lottery Players
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals serves as a huge thank you to players who, over the last 30 years, have helped fund over 20,000 theatre-related projects, contributing an impressive £1.3 billion to support the performing arts. This funding has not only helped restore historic theatres but also enabled hundreds of new performing arts initiatives.
Jason Manford’s Thoughts on Hosting the Show
Jason Manford expressed his excitement about returning to host the show for the fourth time:
“It’s an honour to be back hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals for the fourth time! It’s always a pleasure to host in Manchester, giving a northern audience the chance to see spectacular performances and appearances from the stars of the West End. This year’s line-up is stronger than ever, and one of the best aspects of the show is that tickets are free as a thank you to National Lottery players who help ensure the performing arts industry thrives by playing each week.”
Watch the Highlights on BBC 1
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the highlights of this spectacular event, airing on BBC 1 on 22 March 2025 at 6.50pm. Whether you were lucky enough to be in the audience or you missed out, this broadcast will bring the magic of musical theatre straight to your living room.
