Jonny, 13, has been rubbing shoulders with comedian Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber in the Saturday-night BBC series I'd Do Anything for the past few months.

But Saturday was crunch time as the last of the eight semi-finalists was chosen - and it was Jonny who was named as the final choice.

Ultimately, three winners will be given the chance to take the lead role of Oliver in the new Cameron Mackintosh production of the musical in London.

Jonny said: "I'm loving it. It's such a great experience and everything is so much fun and really exciting. Everyone in the production team and the other Olivers are great."

Every week the 12 boys - who were selected from an earlier group of 50 - are set an individual musical task and they also have to perform as a group.

Jonny named some of his favourites so far as meeting several Billy Elliot actors and performing on a West End stage, and taking part in a High School Musical basketball-dance routine.

Despite the competition aspect, he has enjoyed spending time with the other contestants. He said: "All of them are really nice and we have a great laugh in the Oliver House together."

Jonny has been interested in acting since he was six, and he and his sister Lydia are both members of Warwick-based youth company Playbox Theatre.

He appeared in the organisation's production of The Twits at the Dream Factory last year.

He added: "I like acting and singing because it's fun - I like pretending to be someone I'm not. It's like something different and I love music."

If he wasn't set on the performing life, he would like to be a marine biologist.

A fan of Hollyoaks and Horrid Henry, Jonny named his favourite actors as Jonny Depp and Sally Dexter and favourite films as Ironman and Hairspray.

Apart from Oliver!, the shows he loves the most are Billy Elliot, The Lion King and Wicked.

When asked if he thought he could win the contest, he said: "Well, everyone has an even chance and the competition is tough but I obviously would love to win!"