Oxford performer on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream on ITV

And among the Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream contestants is Callum from Oxford who works at a local primary school.

The 22-year-old is hoping to land a place in the West End and perform the ABBA hits that make up the successful theatre shows and blockbuster movies.

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Next year, the popular musical turned cinema phenomenon will celebrate its 25th anniversary and to mark the occasion, Mamma Mia! creator Judy Craymer is looking for the next Sophie and Sky.

The show, named after the iconic ABBA song and filmed on the Greek island of Corfu, will see the contestants live in a Greek villa for eight weeks as they take part in the competition.

The show, hosted by Zoe Ball, sees the performers judged on their singing, dancing, acting and chemistry skills by judges Amber Riley, Jessie Ware, Alan Carr and Samantha Barks.

He said: “Having the opportunity to play a lead role in the West End is something that actors dream of and on a London stage like the Novello theatre where you’re acting alongside amazing people.

“It’s also an amazing opportunity to get to play Sky alongside a Sophie you’ve met on this TV show, that makes it special.

“I had just come out of drama school with no expectation when I did that first audition and now I’m here.

Callum reveals his favourite ABBA song is ‘Waterloo’ and also likes ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ saying the song “lights up a room”.

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The performer admitted his musical theatre journey has been “relatively limited” up until now.

He said: “This feels like dipping my toes into the musical theatre world for the first time.

“Not to say I haven't done any musicals, I have at school and when I was younger.

“After that, I narrowed my focus slightly away from musical theatre to acting.

“I went to Drama School and did three years training at Rose Bruford, we did songs within plays and there was music involved but auditioning for this show was my first ever musical theatre audition.

“I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe when I was 18. That was a really cool experience!”

On appearing in the show, he said: “It’s been a learning experience for me. The makers of the show picked me to take part because they thought I had something.

“They knew I had little experience and yet they still decided that I was someone who they wanted on their show, and they saw my potential.

“Going on the show is this massive opportunity to learn as much as I can from all of these fantastic people like musical directors and choreographers.

“There is some pressure because I’ve got to showcase my skills and what I can do and when you know that people will be watching you on the TV at home.

“It’s a huge opportunity to show what I can do, singing and acting.”