Following the airing of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, Over The Rainbow reunites host Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, along with a brand new panel of experts (Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge) and BBC One viewers, will choose a Dorothy to perform in the West End production of The Wizard Of Oz next year.

The show transmits with a weekend special on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th March, then the live studio shows start on Saturday 3rd April.

Viewers will see thousands of hopefuls turning up at open auditions across the country in Friday night’s show, in a bid to become the newest star of the West End. You know how it works by now.

As the selection process continues, Saturday’s show will showcase the final 20 ‘Dorothys’ in a studio-based ‘sing-off’ – judged by the panel and Andrew, who will make a selection down to 10 girls.

Andrew Lloyd Webber commented: “I would like to bring something new to The Wizard Of Oz. I’m searching for a modern Dorothy, who can take the role much further, and continue to appeal to a wide audience.

“The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show in addition to the much-loved originals from the movie. Over The Rainbow is of course one of the greatest songs ever written.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber is also searching for a Toto, for a one-off gala performance of The Wizard Of Oz, when it hits the West End stage next year.

Jodie Prenger (winner of 2008′s I’d Do Anything) will lead the search for Toto in April, at two open audition days (venue tbc folks, so don’t start inundating me with information requests). Viewers will be able to follow the dogs’ progress across the series, as they do their best to charm dedicated cat man, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

You can catch The Wizard of Oz at London’s Palladium Theatre from March 2011.