, has confirmed that a production "will definitely happen", and will premiere in London later this year.
Hayward said that although the
musical is currently in its "infant stages", open auditions will be held in the coming weeks to find an "ordinary girl" to play the former
Big Brother
star, who died last month aged 27 after losing her battle with cervical cancer.
The open audtions are likely to be filmed for a reality TV talent show, although no deal has been struck with a TV network yet.
One of Goody's "best men" at her wedding to
Jack Tweed
in February, Hayward told ITN:
"One of the various projects we've got in the pipeline is a musical we've got coming out in about four months' time and it is going to be the story of her life, and we're going to be on the search for who is going to play Jade," he said.
"Jade was just an ordinary girl and the person who plays her will reflect that," he added.
"The most important thing is to give someone a break, just like she got."
Hayward revealed that Goody didn't know about the musical before her death, and said he's currently "putting together scripts" as well as a "creative team" to plan the musical.
"Her dream was as a little girl was to be in a musical," he said. "So obviously when she passed away it felt fitting to do something like this."
Goody's ex-publicist
Max Clifford
has welcomed the idea, saying it had "very, very strong potential". He also revealed he would be a judge on the TV show "if it comes to fruition".
The musical is one of many projects that have mushroomed since Goody's death. Intimate and revealing diaries chronicling the star's tragic demise were published last week, and Clifford has already hinted at the possibility of Goody's life story being turned
into a movie
"I'm in discussions with three separate organisations, all of whom want to make a movie of her life," he recently revealed.
Exploitation
But while Hayward's musical intentions are no doubt honourable, the niggling question remains: does he care that people will think he's exploiting Goody's memory?
"I have nothing to say to those people really.
"She was tabloid gold, The people have the right to choose their hero.
"If the show continues to raise awareness about cervical cancer, be a good night out and further her legacy, then it's not really hurting anyone."
What do you think? A fitting tribute or tacky money-spinner?
Video: Jade Goody's 'best bits'
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Pictured: Former Big Brother star Jade Goody. Photo / AP
