Public Vote Sends Lee Mead To The West End

Saturday night's live grand final of Any Dream Will Do on BBC One saw understudy Lee Mead triumph in the public vote and win the right to wear the coveted Technicolor Dreamcoat in a new West End production of Joseph.

Immediately after landing one of the best loved roles in musical theatre, Lee Mead said:

"I'm shocked, I was obviously hoping that I'd do well, but it hasn't sunk in at all. I feel incredible - it's the best feeling in the world."

Legendary composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who had absolutely no say in the choosing of his new leading man as viewers voted to select their Joseph, was thrilled with the public's choice, saying:

"I'm absolutely delighted. Lee may have been an understudy, but he's never sung in front of me, or sung in front of milions of people before. He did a fantastic job."

Host Graham Norton said:

"Lee is a consummate professional, he commands the stage. As an audience member, you are so relaxed with him in charge. You have total confidence that he is able to do the job. He can do it all."

Doctor Who star and West End leading man John Barrowman commented:

"Lee won because he is polished, professional and close to perfection in what he does. He goes on stage and commands it, and one of the best qualities about him is that he doesn't analyse the song too much. He just gets out there and does it. I'm happy to give over my West End leading man's shoes for a while, to allow him to fill them."

West End leading lady Denise Van Outen said:

"Lee from the very beginning right through to the very end has been the most consistent out of all the contestants. He has the ability to make even really popular songs his own and he has his own unique style of performing. The next time he lands a role as a leading man, can he put me forward to be the leading lady?"

Theatre impressario and Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright commented:

"Lee won because he totally, but totally, deserves to step out of the shadows of the chorus and become a leading man. Time and time again he took standards by such luminaries as Presley, Darin and Jagger and made me forget the originals. There's no greater tribute I can pay to any artist than that. This is it Lee, this is what you've wanted, this is what you've waited for and this is what, more than anything, you have deserved it, since you first saw Joseph in Southend as a kid. Enjoy every second of it."

Vocal coach Zoe Tyler, who has worked constantly with the boys throughout the run of the show, said:

"As soon as Lee sets foot on the stage he lights the whole stage up, he knows how to perform and he knows how to bring the audience in 100 per cent. His vocals are in a class of their own. His strengths are his incredible ability to give a leading man performance and that his vocals and range are phenomenal. I'd advise him to pace himself, enjoy every single moment and that he now has to believe he is a star."

Over the course of a tense and dramatic evening, Lee Mead performed alongside fellow finalists - 19-year-old supermarket assistant Keith Jack from Dalkeith, Midlothian and 18-year-old drama student Lewis Bradley from Middlesbrough, who all set out to prove to the public that they had the power, range and charisma to become a West End leading man.

The group song, performed by the three finalists, was Maria from West Side Story.

After performing their songs and receiving the usual round of feedback from Andrew Lloyd Webber and the expert panel of Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman, Bill Kenwright and Zoe Tyler, the Josephs faced the agony of not one, but two, public votes.

At the end of the first live show, Lewis Bradley was voted out by the public, placing him in third place.

Lewis Bradley said after his eviction:

"I really did think it was anybody's game at this stage but I'm glad that Lee won as I do think he's better suited to Joseph. I know I've been knocked out and I'm not going to be Joseph, but I've just got to turn it around and make it positive, which I'm quite good at now because I've had to do it a lot during the series! This whole experience has been priceless, I've met so many amazing people."

In the second live show of the evening, the two remaining finalists – Lee Mead and Keith Jack – performed their favourite songs of the series – Always On My Mind by Elvis Presley for Keith Jack, and Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones for by Lee Mead.

After a stirring duet of Jesus Christ Superstar, Graham Norton broke the news that Lee Mead was Joseph, leaving Keith Jack in second place.

Keith Jack said after the show:

"Obviously I'm gutted to come so close, but hopefully this won't be the last that people will see of me. I think Lee is a fantastic performer and I am genuinely happy for him. I'm going to go back to Scotland for a bit of cold air and a rest, and then hopefully something good will come of this. I still want to be a leading man in the West End, and I'm just so thankful to everyone who has helped me to achieve my potential."

A total of three million votes were cast tonight by viewers.

There was also a Joseph reunion tonight as the evicted Josephs performed The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy and the public's Maria, Connie Fisher performed The Sound Of Music.

The Josephs were also joined on stage tonight by the winning choir from the Joseph Choir search competition, Brampton Primary School from East Ham.

The single featuring Lee's version of Any Dream Will Do and the finalists' ensemble performance of Close Every Door is now available to pre-order at bbc.co.uk/pudsey.

The single will be available to download from Tuesday 12 June and in the shops from Monday 18 June. Every copy sold will help BBC Children In Need.