Ben Forster wins ITV’s Superstar to play arena Jesus

Having trained at the Italia Conti Academy and hailing from Sunderland, Forster has already racked up West End credits, including playing Doody in Grease and a lead singer in Michael Jackson tribute concert Thriller Live, as well as playing the same role on an international tour.

Forster will join Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, judge Melanie C as Mary Magdalene and radio DJ Chris Moyles as King Herod in the production, which is touring the country as well as playing at the O2 Arena in London.

The production is directed by Laurence Connor, and will be lit by Patrick Woodroffe and designed by Mark Fisher.

Forster, who beat Rory Taylor and Roger Wright in the final of Superstar last night, said: “This is a dream come true. I’m a massive fan of Andrew’s work. To have the chance to perform in front of hundreds of thousands of people in an arena with such an amazing cast is a real honour. Rehearsals start in two weeks and I just can’t wait to get stuck in to the role”.

The Jesus Christ Superstar tour commences at the O2 Arena on 21 September 2012 and ends in Sheffield on 21 October.

Despite the West End credits of Forster and many of the other Superstar competitors, including semi-finalist Roger Wright, who starred in The Lion King, earlier this week on the ITV programme, Andrew Lloyd Webber said there were “so few leading men” in the West End. The comment provoked a backlash in Theatreland. Check out our own feature on the West End’s current leading men and tell us who else should be added to our all-time list..

– Rosie Bannister

Check our all of our contributing editor Glenn Mead’s hugely popular Superstar blogs from the ITV series, including coverage of “Tweetgate”.