There were times, during the BBC’s televised search for an actress to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revival of The Sound Of Music, when David Ian was gripped by terror.

“I was petrified throughout the whole process,” he admits. “That kind of show had never been done before and we didn’t know how it would turn out. We knew who the strong contenders were but it would have only taken a contestant’s cat to die or something and the whole thing could’ve turned on its head. Viewers love a sad story.”

The 2006 BBC1 show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, followed Lloyd Webber’s quest to find a leading lady for his revival of The Sound Of Music.

The winner was, of course, Connie Fisher, who wowed critics at the London Palladium. After a 15-month West End run, Connie is playing Maria on a UK tour of the show which comes to the Alhambra – the tour’s only Yorkshire venue – for a month in September. Choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Philips, the lavish production features some of musical theatre’s most memorable songs, including My Favourite Things, Edelweiss, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and the title song.

“Andrew and I knew Connie was perfect,” says David, over a coffee in the Alhambra’s Circle Bar. “As well as being a talented performer she had comedic skills and Maria’s youthful, spirited quality. We knew she’d be fabulous – if she got the part. But that was down to the viewers. We kept thinking, ‘What if they get it wrong? What if they choose an underdog?’ It could have all gone a bit John Sergeant,” he grimaces, referring to last year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing when the popular broadcaster became a front-runner despite, or because of, his two left feet.

“Thankfully, Connie triumphed. It goes to show that the public recognises talent,” says David.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, based on the memoirs of Maria Augusta Trapp, is the story of a young nun who is governess to seven children. Under her guidance, the Von Trapps become a singing family, fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria on the eve of the Second World War.

The original Broadway production opened in November, 1959, and became a smash hit. It opened in London in 1961, and four years later came the Oscar-winning film, starring Julie Andrews. “It hasn’t toured for 25 years,” says David. “We had a massive response to the show in London and we haven’t scaled it down for the tour. It looks exquisite.”

David says a blend of vulnerability and feistiness made Connie ideal. “People always think of Julie Andrews but Maria is barely older than Von Trapp’s eldest daughter who, as we know from the song she sings, is ‘16 going on 17’.

“In the Maria song that the nuns sing there’s the line, ‘She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, her dress has got a tear.’ She’s not a serene woman, she’s a tomboy. That’s something Andrew was keen to capture and Connie was perfect.”

TV shows such as How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Grease Is The Word – ITV’s search for a Sandy and a Danny for the West End run of Grease – have come under fire for giving out lead roles as prizes. David, a judge on both shows, says it’s a format that won’t always work.

“It only works with iconic roles,” he says. “It wouldn’t be the same with Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, for example, because she’s not widely familiar.

“There was an outcry when we did the first show, especially from the industry, but as far as I’m concerned it’s an open contest, available to both professionals and amateurs. The contestants went through a long audition process so it wasn’t a case of becoming an overnight sensation.

“If you look at the four shows – Maria, Grease, Joseph and Oliver! – the public made the right choices. All the winners had had training and worked for a long time before they got their break.”

Regarded as one of the most influential figures in UK theatre, David started as a performer in musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Pirates Of Penzance. He set up his first production company with Paul Nicholas in 1991, producing West End shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Singin’ In The Rain, The Producers and Grease.

In 1996 he formed David Ian Productions, which has produced shows such as La Cage Aux Folles, Flashdance, Chicago, Cats and the Britain’s Got Talent UK arena tour. Last year, with Arlene Phillips, he produced ITV’s Britannia High series.

The economic slump has been tough on theatres, but David says when times are hard, people look for entertainment.

“Historically, theatre does well in recession. Last year we had record figures in the West End,” he says. “The credit crunch means bookings tend to come much later – people don’t book hugely in advance as they might normally – but although they might be more selective, they’re still going to the theatre. The Sound Of Music is sitting on big advance sales.”

David also brought Chicago and Flashdance to Bradford this year. Is there any show left he’d like to produce?

“I always thought An Officer And A Gentleman would make a great show and we’re making enquiries about that,” he says. “Getting a show on is a long process; just sorting copywright for all the different songs can take a year. Flashdance took a while because I wanted Arlene Phillips for the choreography. “When someone approaches me about putting on a show, I always warn them it’ll take at least two years to get to the stage.” The Sound Of Music runs at the Alhambra from September 2 to 26. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.