David Ian's Biography

In 2006, David Ian was on the BBC's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria and in 2007, he 'switched sides' to be a judge on ITV's Grease is the Word.

David Ian was brought up in Essex. His father was a railway fitter. Later on, his mother would be his P.A.

David Ian started out as an actor, but struggled. According to The Times, David Ian described himself as "a Mike Nolan lookalike with muscles".

David Ian met his future wife Tracy when he was playing Hank the Cowboy and she was playing the Dance Captain in Goldilocks and The Three Bears.

Having joined forces with actor Paul Nicholas, David Ian is now the UK's leading theatre producer. He even knocked Andrew Lloyd Webber off the top spot in the Stage 100 - the guide to the 100 most influential people in UK theatre.

David Ian is the chairman of Live Nation's global theatrical division. His hits include Guys and Dolls, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Anything Goes and The Producers.

David Ian co-produces the West End production of The Sound of Music, which ties in with How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

In 2008, David Ian together with Arlene Phillips was involved in the casting of a new ITV1 drama series Britannia High.