ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER - LEE LANDS WEST END JOSEPH JOB

LEE LANDS WEST END JOSEPH JOB

Lee Mead promised "a hell of a show" after winning the BBC's Any Dream Will Do contest last night.

The 25-year-old from Southend-on-Sea was handed the lead role in a forthcoming West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by musical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber last night.

He will follow in the footsteps of Maria winner Connie Fisher from July 17th at the Adelphi Theatre in London after his impressive version of Paint It Black helped beat off competition from rivals Lewis Bradley and runner-up Keith Jack.

"My support's grown every week and I want to thank everyone so much," Lee said after his victory.

"For those of you who didn't vote, I'm going to give you a hell of a show," he added.

Lloyd Webber greeted his victor with enthusiasm, saying Lee's performances in the final of the show had been "an amazing achievement".

"I'm very, very happy. Just remember people thought Lee was the pro. He's only been an understudy in a show and he's never performed in front of me or really very many people at all."

Perhaps it was the sight of Lee finally wearing the Technicolor dreamcoat which made him end his gushing tribute with the simple words "thank you, thank you".