Any Dream Will Do Reveals Josephs

The 12 Josephs selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber and his panel of musical theatre experts, to perform in the live finals of Any Dream Will Do have been revealed on BBC One.

The 12 finalists – who will battle it out in a bid to land the coveted lead role in a West End production of Joseph And The Technicolor Dreamcoat – have been handpicked from thousands of hopefuls.

They have already survived a gruelling selection process to win a place on the live shows and include a builder, office administrator and a supermarket worker.

Over the next eight weeks, the talented West End wannabes will perform in the presence of Andrew Lloyd Webber and his esteemed panel of experts - Broadway and West End leading lady Denise Van Outen, celebrated theatre producer Bill Kenwright, Torchwood star John Barrowman and outspoken vocal coach Zoe Tyler - to prove that they have the charisma and star quality to win one of the best-loved roles in musical theatre.

Once the panel has voiced their expert opinions, viewers are able to vote for their favourite. It is up to the BBC One audience which of the finalists will take to the West End stage and become a superstar, fulfilling their wildest dreams and changing their lives forever.

The final 12 were revealed to be...

Antony Hansen, 17
A student from Abington, near Oxford.
Antony is the youngest of the 12 and lives with his parents and three brothers in Abington, near Oxford. He studies Performing Arts Theatre Studies and Music Technology at college, and although he has no formal acting training has been involved in amateur dramatics since he was a child. In the past he has worked both in telesales and as a garage attendant and feels that he would make a "young, fresh-faced" Joseph. He auditioned in London and describes the experience of being on the show as "like a dream."

Ben Ellis, 18
A student originally from Scarborough and now living in Hackney, London.
Born in Scarborough, Ben moved to London at the age of 16 to pursue his dream of making it as an actor and singer. He is now studying Musical Theatre at The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts and says that he thinks he could be a "masculine and funny" Joseph who would bring energy to the part, but isn't looking forward to wearing the sandals! He auditioned in London and has found the experience "emotionally and mentally draining, but exciting at the same time."

Chris Barton, 19
A student from Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Chris lives in his childhood home in Ormskirk, Lancashire and is currently studying for a National Diploma in Musical Theatre at Liverpool Theatre College. He started singing when he was just four years old, has made ends meet by working in a sunbed shop – which he claims was the worst job he has ever had – and says that he would be a "fresh and vibrant" Joseph. Chris first auditioned in Manchester and sums up his journey as "mind-blowing – three weeks ago I was in college doing my own thing and now I'm at the BBC doing this huge programme."

Chris Crosby, 18
A clothes shop sales assistant originally from Nottingham and now living in Notting Hill, London.
Clothes shop sales assistant Chris grew up in Nottingham and moved to London at the age of 13 when he was awarded a place at the prestigious Silvia Young Theatre School. He claims that he would be a "contemporary and soulful Joseph" who would bring "intrigue" to the part. Chris attended the auditions in London and has found it an "unbelievable, extremely surreal and amazing experience."

Craig Chalmers, 25
A vocalist and entertainer from Edinburgh.
Scottish Craig is an Edinburgh-based entertainer who performs with a male strip troupe called G-Force – although he just sings while the rest of the troupe strip! He has also been part of a boyband which has supported artists including Blue, the Sugababes and Girls Aloud.
He thinks that he would make a "more rugged, funky and less operatic Joseph". He first auditioned in Glasgow, and has "learnt loads" during the run up to being named in the final 12.

Daniel Boys, 27
An actor from Greenwich, London.
Daniel is a graduate of the Guildford School of Acting in Surrey and currently lives in London where, between acting jobs, he works as a cement administrator. He has been Adam Rickett's understudy in Rent and has also appeared in Grease and been singing since the age of seven.
He thinks that he would be a "fun, honest and smiley Joseph".
He attended the London auditions and describes being in the final 12 as "the most amazing, scary, nerve-racking experience of my life!"

Johndeep More, 23
An office administrator originally from Birmingham and now living in Finsbury Park, London.
Born in Birmigham but now living in London, office administrator Johndeep only started performing two years ago when a university friend who overheard him singing in his bedroom suggested he apply for music school. He went on to study for one year at the Royal Academy of Music, and has since supported his performance work with a string of jobs including sales assistant, cashier and receptionist. Johndeep attended the London auditions and says that being involved in the show has been the "single most emotionally challenging thing he's ever done ... but also the most exciting, rewarding and amazing experience," and that he feels "blessed" to be part of it.

Keith Jack, 19
A supermarket customer service assistant and student from Dalheith, Midlothian.
Keith currently works as a customer assistant at Tesco's while he is studying for an HNC in Musical Theatre at a college in Edinburgh.
His first public performance was at the age of five to residents at a retirement home, and he has since gone on to win various local singing competitions. He thinks that he would be a "funny" Joseph, and surprise people with his powerful voice. Keith first auditioned in Glasgow and says that he has loved being involved because "I've got to work with the best people in the business".

Lee Mead, 25
A signer and actor originally from Southend-on-Sea and now living in Brockley, London.
Born and raised in Southend-on-Sea, Lee has been a professional singer and actor for the past five years and has performed in various cabaret shows and on cruise ships. He has performed professionally in Musicals including The Phantom Of The Opera, Tommy and Miss Saigon, as well as dancing in a Geri Halliwell video. His past jobs have included working at KFC and as a postman, and he believes that he would be a "strong, sensitive, cheeky and deep Joseph". Lee first auditioned in London, and comments: "It's been the biggest journey of my life so far, and it's all happened so quickly."

Lewis Bradley, 17
A student originally from Middlesborough, now living in London.
Born and raised in Middlesborough, Lewis moved to London at the age of 13 to study at the Italia Conti School of Performing Arts. He got down to the final 15 for the film version of Billy Elliot and has also been a member of a boyband. He claims that he would make a "fresh, poppy and unique Joseph." Lewis auditioned in London, and simply describes the experience as "very surreal!"

Robert McVeigh, 23
A builder from Rotherham.
Builder Robert hails from Rotherham, and apart from a BTEC in drama hasn't received any formal acting training. He believes that getting to this stage in Any Dream Will Do is the greatest achievement of his life so far and thinks that it will make him re-think his career and life plans. He has recently become engaged to Louise, 25, a teaching assistant who he met through a local operatic society. Robert first auditioned in Manchester, and says that his route to the becoming one of the 12 has been "so surreal it feels like I'm watching over somebody!"

Seamus Cullen, 35
A sales & marketing worker from Willesden Green, London.
Born in the United States and now based in London, Seamus Cullen is the oldest member of the group. He was educated in Virginia, Cornwall and Cork and made his first appearance on BBC TV as a choirboy at the age of ten. He has worked for years in IT, marketing and events, is currently training to become a teacher and believes that he would make a "powerful, emotionally engaging and sensitive Joseph." Seamus attended the London auditions, and says that he has found the process "emotional", but now that the 12 have been chosen, "everything has become focused and we can all start believing that dreams can come true."