May, a co-producer and musical supervisor on the stage show, admits he was approached by the people behind British hit TV series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? who discovered the star of a Sound of Music revival by pitting wannabes against one another. But he declined the offer, fearing such a public talent search would be "contrary to the spirit of our show". And May, who is not a fan of reality TV talent contests, adds, "It's actually an appalling lowering of standards, this whole TV-dominated culture. I promise you will never find us on some panel bullying and ridiculing young performers. "I personally detest that kind of thing, and I think it's a shame that the public puts up with it. "The idea that you can just pull people in off the streets to audition in public, and cast your show from this process, is a huge insult to all those young men and women who have devoted their whole lives to developing their talents."