A SINGER from York has narrowly missed out on making the final to be the next star of the hit musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Chris Hagyard, of Ebsay Drive, Clifton Moor, was one of the 50 who were whittled down from 9,000 hopefuls to enter Joseph School on BBC's Any Dream Will Do talent show.

The series aims to find the next stage star using a format like the previous television hit How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

Chris was chosen to be one of the final 50 after performing Love Changes Everything from the musical Aspects Of Love.

The 25-year-old, who has been singing since he was nine years old, was involved in amateur dramatics during his time at Millthorpe School and York Sixth Form College.

While in Joseph School, Chris met both Jason Donovan and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and learned from some of the biggest names in showbusiness.

He said: "It's one of the best experiences I've ever had as I got to work with people like Denise Van Outen and Bill Kenwright.

While in the school Chris had to sing High Flying Adored, from Evita, and also Obviously by the band McFly. Chris said: "They were trying to get as much of a pop Joseph as a musical Joseph.

"I'm a bit disappointed not to make it that far, but I got as far as I could and I'm happy with that.

"We had a panel of celebrity judges and you expect them to be lording it over you, but they were not at all, they were just down-to-earth people doing a job."

He said he thought the reason he may have been denied the chance of appearing in the final 12 was because of a lack of dancing skills.

He said; "I suspect that I'm not a particularly co-ordinated dancer at the best of times. I think my size was against me as well as I'm a pretty big guy. It's a message to those guys like me - it can work for you as long as you believe in yourself."

Chris went to the first audition for the show in Manchester at the beginning of March and was called back for the London auditions the following week.

He made it through to the last 50 and from March 12 spent two days in Joseph School - which happened to clash with the second anniversary of his wedding to wife, Treudi.

But just because he is not appearing on the live TV shows does not mean people can't hear Chris sing.

He will be appearing as Mr Bumble with the New Earswick Musical Society in their production of Oliver! at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from April 17.