Zak Robinson found out this week his audition will feature on the new BBC show.

Sidmouth Herald: Zak Robinson took a leading role with the Youth Music Theatre playing Matt Willis in a Busted themed musical.Zak Robinson took a leading role with the Youth Music Theatre playing Matt Willis in a Busted themed musical. (Image: Archant)

A Sidmouth College pupil is hoping to make it through to the next round of the BBC’s new prime-time singing competition - after learning his audition will be televised tomorrow (Saturday).

Zak Robinson woke up on Wednesday morning to be told he will feature in the first-ever episode of Let It Shine.

The 17-year-old musical theatre lover applied and made it through to face judges Gary Barlow, Martin Kemp, Danni Minogue and Amber Riley. Let It Shine is searching for five male leads to star in a Take That-themed stage show.

Zak, a member of Sidmouth Youth Theatre, said: “I’ve always loved singing and that’s how it started. Going through school, they [Sidmouth Youth Theatre] have put a show on every year. I always looked up to the older pupils and would go to the West End and watch everyone in their shows, thinking I’d love to be like them.

Sidmouth Herald: Zak stepped in to the role of Javier at Honiton College in their production of Les Miserable.Zak stepped in to the role of Javier at Honiton College in their production of Les Miserable. (Image: Archant)

“If I’m doing what I love, I give it 100 per cent.

Of his forthcoming appearance on the show, Zak said: “It was a shock - I have never been on TV before. I didn’t go on the show for that.”

He is currently in rehearsals for Sidmouth Youth Theatre’s Happy Days and is preparing to apply to drama schools to pursue a career in musical theatre.

His proud father Christopher said it has been an incredible year for his son, who last year performed in front of 900 people as Matt Willis in Youth Music Theatre’s adaption of What I Go To School For.

Chris, who travelled to Manchester to watch his son audition, said: “As a father, you want to shout about it. He’s very modest and very humble and I think it will help him stay grounded.”

Sidmout College head of drama Angela Davies said: “He’s got a really strong voice and is now committed to what he’s doing in a big way. He played Riff in West Side Story, which is a hard-hitting role to play. That’s developed right from when he was a member of the ensemble at 12, when he joined the youth theatre.”

Let It Shine starts tomorrow at 7pm on BBC One.

Tickets for Sidmouth Youth Theatre’s Happy Days, which runs from February 1 - 4 at the Manor Pavilion, are available from Sidmouth College and the Tasty Baguette.