Grease Is the Word is the UK version of NBCs Grease: You're the One that I Want!. It was announced on December 20 2006 by ITV, it was to air in Spring/Summer 2007. The show is produced by Syco TV (the production company of Simon Cowell).
The winning couple, Susan McFadden & Danny Bayne, now star in the new West End production of Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre.
The judges are David Ian (the producer of the stage show and the 2007 Broadway revival), David Gest, 80s star Sinitta, and American Dance Icon and X The X Factor judge Brian Friedman. The main ITV show is presented by Zoë Ball, and Holly Willoughby is presenting Greased Lightnin on ITV2. Greased Lightnin shows extra unseen auditions, behind the scenes gossip and exclusive interviews with the judges and contestants.
Cat Deeley was originally scheduled to present the show, but had to pull out at the last minute due to scheduling difficulties with her American shows. Simon Cowell was also supposed to be a judge but could not as it was shown at the same time as American Idol. He was still an executive producer.
Unlike the NBC series, the ITV programme will not be based (at least directly) on the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? format, which is owned by the BBC.
"Grease" was a number one single in the United States during 1978 by the singer Frankie Valli. It is the title song for the musical motion picture of the same name, which was based on the stage play of the same name. The song was written by Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees; that group would later perform the song in concert, as captured on their live offering One Night Only.
"Grease" was covered by experimental rock band Dog Fashion Disco and included as a hidden track on their album Committed to a Bright Future and sampled in the track "I Want You" by Paris Hilton on her first studio album.
