Would-be singing stars are flying from around the world to Manchester in a bid to win the chance of playing the lead role in the new production of Jesus Christ Superstar, said music maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He told ITV1’s Daybreak that thousands of people had auditioned and that there was a chance he could cast a woman in the role.

He said: “We had a boy in from New Zealand; a boy from Israel; we had somebody come in from Lithuania.

“It was extraordinary where people are coming from and I think we’ve had 3,000 people in to audition for the role, including a few girls – one girl who was very, very good and was really terrific.”

The hunt for someone to fill the role will form the basis of a new ITV show.

Auditions are taking place in London, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff, with the most promising new talent performing on stage in front of Lloyd Webber and judges.

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