Second chance for Superstar wannabe

Andrew Lloyd-Webber got more than he bargained for when he told Superstar stand-in Jon Moses he was through to the final.

Viewers saw the Geordie singer, who had been on stand-by in case one of the other finalists dropped out, given the chance to compete alongside them.

The 28-year-old from Newcastle was suffering with a sore throat when he got the call to meet the musical maestro and thought he was for the chop.

He said: "Bear in mind I know that I'm ready to leave and ready to be sacked, I thought because I've lost my voice and then he said, 'You are the reserve, you've done the job but I've got 10 healthy finalists there.'

"And I think he said something along the lines of, 'But we'd like to make it into 11 and we'd like to put you on the show'.

"Have you ever seen a baby cry and no noise comes out? It's frightening isn't it? I couldn't breathe, I went to go to speak and because I couldn't speak I thought well I need to do something here so I gave him a cuddle and then I thought 'Can I cuddle him?' so I sat back down."

Jon's surprise promotion means he is now one of the 11 performers who will battle it out in the coming week for the chance to take the title role in a new production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

The cabaret singer, who regularly performs in holiday camps, is enjoying life on the show.

He said: "Anywhere with running hot water and bed linen that doesn't make you itch is a luxury."