Following the Yellow Brick Road

I'm not a fan of talent shows like the X Factor or Britain's Got Talent, I find them so boring. But I've recently got really into the BBC's Over The Rainbow. It's pretty much like American Idol and co, except on Over the Rainbow a group of girls perform each week in a bid to win the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, which is coming to the West End. It may not sound very exciting but it's so ridiculously camp that I've quickly become obsessed.
The main reason it's so good is because each week the girl voted off has to perform a goodbye song in the most bizarre setup imaginable. The rest of the Dorothy's sing their goodbyes, then take the shoes from the loosing girl (why I have no idea) and hand them to Andrew Lloyd Weber, who is the head judge. The evicted girl then sits on a cardboard moon (without any shoes) and floats away singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It's hard to explain just how hilarious it is without actually seeing it, so here's a clip:



I think every TV show should end like this from now on. It's completely ridiculous but oddly riveting at the same time. Will they fall off the moon? What if they refuse to give up their shoes? It's tense viewing.
My favourite potential Dorothy is Danielle, who you can see below singing Mambo Italiano. I would never go as far as actually voting - oh no - but I do hope she wins as I'd hate to see her shoe-less on a cardboard moon. She's too good for that kind of treatment.



And while this all might seem completely without context just take a look at the S/S collections and you'll see that Dorothy is actually a huge inspiration this season. There were bunches at Prada, socks and heels worn on the Burberry runway, gingham dresses popped up at Christopher Kane and Totto-esque dogs made an appearance at Mulberry. It's Dorohty all over.



As Dorothy's the clear pin-up girl for S/S 2010 it's a shame that the actual costumes on Over the Rainbow are so naff. If only the BBC had the budget for Christopher Kane...

Are there any other Over the Rainbow fans out there? And will you be adding a touch of Dorothy's look to your wardrobe this season?

images from style.com