Lloyd Webber leads new TV search for star of West End

The hopefuls include an A-level student, a sales assistant and a builder. Their aim, with the help of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a reality television show and the public vote, is to become a star of the musical stage.

After the success of How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?, which won Connie Fisher the lead role in the West End version of The Sound of Music, Lloyd Webber is now searching for a male lead in his 1968 show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joining the composer as judges on Any Dream Will Do are Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman and the producer Bill Kenwright.

Lloyd Webber said following last year's reality TV show - in which three women went on to take lead parts in West End shows - this series had attracted singers of a higher calibre.

"We had a very tough choice to get it down to the final 12. With Maria, it was much easier. We did not get the depth of talent. With the girls, it was apparent who was weak and who was strong, but with the boys, every one of the 20 singers were strong. The boys also know what's at stake. They know a career is born from this show," he said.

Graham Norton, who will present the programme, starting next Saturday, said the contestants also had the potential to "cross over" into the pop music industry.

Lloyd Webber scouted for reality TV contestants on the streets and in gospel choirs, and invited thousands of men to auditions in Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester and London.

The 12 finalists, aged between 17 and 35, have day jobs that include cement mixing, acting, building and office work. Several of them are students. The winner will emerge after the eight-week series in which the public votes for their favourite Joseph, with Lloyd Webber having a casting vote.

The show will go head-to-head with a similar reality show produced by Simon Cowell, in which contestants will vie for roles in Grease, to be broadcast on ITV.

But Lloyd Webber said he may not become involved in future shows.

"There are only certain musicals we can do this with. One of the reasons you can do it with Joseph is because everyone knows it and there's a real journey that takes place. It would be wrong to do it with every musical," he said.

The contestants in Any Dream Will Do will be given advice on injury prevention as well as gym memberships to aid vocal and physical fitness.

Lloyd Webber said the role of Joseph, which includes appearing in a loincloth, need to be filled by someone who is "good-looking" as well as talented.

Lloyd Webber co-wrote the musical with Tim Rice when he was only 17. The new production will open in the West End in July.