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Arts and cultureYou are in: North Yorkshire > Entertainment > The Arts > Arts and culture > The dream is over  The dream is overBen Ellis from Scarborough had high hopes of being the next Joseph in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. But the dream is over for Ben, or is it? In 2002 Pop Idol brought huge success for winner and finalist Will Young and Gareth Gates. Will the same be said of Scarborough's Ben Ellis who reached the Top Twelve of "Any Dream Will Do"? Or will his success be more akin to One True Voice (remember them?) or that other East Coast wannabee Alistair Griffin? Eighteen-year-old Ben took a bit of a gamble, by bailing out of ITV's 'Grease is the Word' to concentrate on Andrew Lloyd Webber's follow up to 'How To Solve A Problem Like Maria?'  Scarborough got right behind Ben. In the first show of the series it looked as if Ben's gamble hadn't paid off as he was in the bottom two and in the sing-off with Chris C. But his luck was in as he was saved by Andrew Lloyd Webber and went through to week two of the programme. BBC Radio York's Julia Booth spoke to Ben the morning after his close shave with the voting public on the first live show. He explained why he'd plumped for the BBC's 'Any Dream Will Do'. “Ultimately it came down the the fact of the people I’d be working with on Joseph, like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright, you can’t get two bigger people in this industry." Help playing audio/video Ben managed to stay out of the bottom two the following week, but in week three he found himself in the sing-off again, this time up against Seamus, again "The Lord" saved Ben. The judges liked Ben all the way through saying he had star quality, but all were concerned about his voice. Ben worked really hard and proved them wrong. John Barrowman was a particular champion of Ben's, at one point saying "You're my Joseph at this stage of the competition".
Despite John's comments Ben found himself in the song-off again in week seven, this time he was up against Craig. After a heart wrenching rendition of Barry Manilow's 'I Made It Through The Rain' Andrew Lloyd Webber once again put his faith in Ben and chose him over Craig and Ben made it through to the semi-final. The four remaining Josephs all put in great performances for the semi-finals, but once again it wasn't quite good enough and Ben found himself in the sing-off with friend and fellow Italia Conti Stage School student Lewis. To make Ben feel even worse, Graham Norton reavealed that Ben had received the lowest number of votes that night. Ben's luck had finally run out as Andrew Lloyd Webber decided that Lewis should be in the final. Ben took the rejection well and he was very positive, saying he'd learnt so much from the experience.  Ben's friends at the YMCA Theatre. BBC Radio York's Richard Reynolds spoke to Ben after his departure from Any Dream Will Do. "It wasn't meant to be. I could have gone in the first week, but when I got through to the semi-final I just thought I would get what I could out of it." Help playing audio/video Ben has been likened to Robbie Williams so Richard asked if he wanted to be a popstar. I don't know if I'd be a popstar, but musical theatre and acting, I'm really big on my acting". One thing is certain, Ben may not have had the chance to wear that multi-coloured dream coat this time round, but the future is certainly rosy for the young man from Scarborough. We'll be keeping a close eye on Ben, so watch this space and carry on sending him your messages - he does read them! last updated: 03/06/2008 at 15:09 Have Your SaySend your messages of support for Ben Ben Ellis Joanne Ben Ellis`s mum Sally Grinham sophie sarah Saneesh (: maria killyleagh Kerry Dickinson jess S L Webbe leanne and jess flack leanne jess flack jess flack Natasha Stubbs Katie Saneesh beaks & sush Lucy Mcculley Hollie Saneesh Saneesh and Sophie and Nicole holly Erin from manchester ellie n becky Jacky nicole derry lucy m acacia and jessica mimi emily craig hannah 14 may dixon Danielle,16 South Yorkshire Jade jackie JESSICA - met ben at his show!!!!! laura xx angiie___;; Bethany Dudette Dudette Mazzie Hannah L olivia pat griffin Vicki JaneyBabes katy henderson vickih Avid Theatre goer keith SE :) Saneesh kerryxxx Sarah ellie, barnsley Kate helen Jan josh lowe Ang Rachael Sarah Mc Connell clare Graham Clowes Heather Cleverly Becky kt Beth Em Rita Kitto Sarah lee Lucy M Gini Catherine helen chelsey A Dutch fan julie-ann moris paul morris gema morris DS: Ben's Angels Member Lins HUGE ben fan gemma Lucy Mcculley Jen Holly Lula mae bethany Marilyn Vallance HUGE Ben fan georgie Emma 4 Ben 4eva Katie gill mary hainsworth Lucy.m John B Sheffield Lula mae lyn Chris Jenny vicky n holly Jessica tracey Lucy Mcculley Geza Becci xlilxtasha Jen Chambers shannon Allyson Passion Is The Key To A Performer Charlotte emma palmer LUCY/ / * Nellie Gabby laura Songhyun N33SHY//* Joanne Maria Morgan Chris Miccy Stacey Lucy Lucy Mcculley Lucy Mcculley stacey..x stoke..x Filey Fans Lucy Annabel Sue Andrew Paula Lucy John emily Helen Julie Chris Amy You are in: North Yorkshire > Entertainment > The Arts > Arts and culture > The dream is over
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