AFTER her appearance on a hit BBC talent show Leanne Dobinson said she would do anything to make her dreams a reality.

And now with the current batch of West End wannabes vying for the role of Nancy in I'd Do Anything, Leanne - who took part in How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? - has made that dream come true.

She is about to make her professional West End stage debut as Cosette in the long running hit musical Les Miserables, but only after some hard work refining her already undoubted talents.

The former Colchester shopworker, now living in Little Baddow, Chelmsford, lost out on the part of Maria on Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit television show after being voted out in the fourth round.

On her departure Andrew Lloyd Webber advised her to keep training as she had a lot of talent and she has taken the theatrical knight's advice.

She said: "For the last few months I have been taking acting, singing and dancing lessons, and my agent has been absolutely fantastic in putting me forward for all kinds of auditions.

"There were some great girls going for the part so I'm still kind of pinching myself about getting this role, and I can't wait for rehearsals to start next month."

It's a nice full circle for Leanne as one of her early roles was as the young Eponine in the same West End musical when she was nine.

For those taking part in I'd Do Anything it is a comforting tale that even when the spotlight goes away there are still plenty of opportunities to be had to make that West End dream come true.

Leanne said: "I knew exactly what they were going through at Andrew's house waiting to find out whether they had made it through to the live shows. So much so it actually made me cry.

"I wouldn't like to pick out any one girl. I think they're all really good, and each of them has something to bring to the part."

After leaving the Maria show in September, and finding an agent, Leanne was inundated with requests for auditions, and starred in the pantomime Snow White, at the Theatre Royal, in Windsor, performing with the likes of Marti Webb and Bernie Clifton.

Leanne said: "It was great fun but much more than that I got some brilliant advice from people who have been in the business for years."

After Snow White she was given the role of Flo Simpson in Make Do and Mend at The Theatre Royal in Nottingham with her performance described as impressive, enjoyable and confident.

But it is the West End she has been yearning for, so June 23 cannot come quickly enough.

She said: "Hopefully, I will be in it for a long time, but at the moment I'm just looking forward to the experience and proving to everyone just what I can do."