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Andrew, son of a care worker and a window cleaner from Burnley, Lancashire, has dreamed of stardom ever since winning a scholarship to drama school in London.

He has appeared in West End musicals including We Will Rock You and toured the country in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

However, he has struggled to make it to the top and has been reduced to taking menial work between singing roles.

He said of his appearance last night: “I probably looked quite desperate. I have always been rejected on the shows before.

"It’s like getting the worst bad news ever. If it’s a positive, which I have finally had after all these years, it’s like the best news in the world.

“The feeling was overwhelming. I am a very positive person but I have had highs and lows, I’ve done West End shows but I have worked in offices and restaurants too.”

The gay singer, who lives above a kebab takeaway in west London, said: “I wasn’t really myself when I entered Pop Idol.

"I was 18 and I was pretending to be straight. All my family were watching.

“After I auditioned for X Factor and I got to the Boot Camp I shaved all my hair off because Cheryl Cole told me to but I got no further.

“I tried for The Voice last year but only got seen by the show’s executives.”

He is an ardent fan of the Queen and says if he had to choose between the BGT £250,000 prize money and appearing at the Royal Variety Show he would pick the royal event.

He played on stage at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations with the cast of We Will Rock You and recalls he “rushed to the front of the stage to get a close view of

Her Majesty”.

He pledged that if he wins BGT he will marry his pastry chef boyfriend and get a tattoo of the Queen on his ankle.

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