A FORMER Droitwich High School pupil has impressed judges in his bid to become the latest West End star.


Worcester-born Tim Prottey-Jones, a finalist on ITV’s Superstar talent programme, has made it one step closer to becoming Andrew Lloyd-Webber's next Jesus Christ Superstar.


The 32-year-old went head to head with 10 other hopefuls last night and found himself safely through to the next round after Dirk Johnston and Afnan Iftikhar received the lowest number of public votes.

Mr Iftikhar was the first to go home when Lloyd-Webber chose to save Mr Johnston after the pair sang for their survival.

Mr Prottey-Jones, who now lives in Birmingham, is vying to secure the lead role in the all-new arena tour Lloyd-Webber's hit musical across the UK, starting at London’s O2 arena.


Over the coming weeks he will have to impress Lloyd-Webber and his judging panel made up of former Spice Girl Melanie C, actress Dawn French and Jason Donovan, but his fate will ultimately be decided by the British public.


Chairman of Droitwich’s Norbury Theatre Anne Lane recalls Tim performing in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera The Gondoliers while he was studying for his A-levels.


She said: “He certainly came in on a few occasions around that time and he was very much into his music. I hope he gets through.”


He currently works as a co-ordinator for a children’s charity Sound It Out, which creates and runs dynamic, diverse participatory music programmes across the West Midlands.
 

His musical journey started at the age of seven with piano lessons and he has gone on to forge a career writing, singing and producing music, with a number of albums, EPs and various singles under his belt.


Mr Prottey-Jones is no stranger to the limelight having already shared the stage with the Lost Prophets, the Libertines, Paul Young, Ruthie Henshall and Albert Lee.