RISING star Antony Hansen has landed a major part in a West End production of the world-famous musical Les Misérables.

Antony, 19, from Steventon, near Didcot, shot to fame on the BBC1 show Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

Fellow pupils from St Birinus School in Didcot tuned in to see their friend knocked out in the final live shows.

But the teenager was not disheartened – and went on to pursue his dream of performing in the West End.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh has cast Antony for 12 months in Les Misérables, the long-running hit musical at the Queen’s Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue.

From June 22, he will play Feuilly and understudy the leading role of Marius.

Antony said: “The last two years have been a bit of a blur — from first auditioning for Any Dream Will Do, through to achieving my dream of appearing in London’s West End in my greatest musical of all time is just mind-blowing.

“Two years ago, I was at St Birinus School studying for my A-Levels and appearing in the school’s production of Les Misérables.

“Now I will be moving to London for 12 months to appear in Les Misérables, in the West End. You have to just go for it and become the best you can.”

Following Any Dream Will Do, Antony attended London’s Mountview Theatre of Performing Arts then joined Bill Kenwright’s sell-out tour of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat in January last year as Napthali.

In February last year, Antony released his first album with fellow Any Dream Will Do finalists Craig Chalmers, Lewis Bradley, Chris Barton and Chris Crosby.

The band, called Dream On, premiered at the London Palladium, while their debut album went to number eight in the UK album charts.

In May last year, Antony made his debut in one of the leading roles in Joseph, at Oxford’s New Theatre, and for his final three months with the show played the lead.

Since Joseph, Antony has recorded a second album, called Saturday Night at the Movies, with Craig Chalmers.