Keith Jack wasn’t first choice for Joseph when he took part in the BBC’s talent show, Any Dream Will Do. Now, the runner-up talks to Steve Pratt about his second choice success

AS runners-up on The X Factor have shown, you can still be a winner by coming second. The careers of the “losers” have blossomed while those who’ve won have struggled.

Four years ago, Keith Jack was runner-up in the BBC’s TV talent contest Any Dream Will Do to find someone to play the leading role in the musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Lee Mead won the contest and duly played Joseph on the London West End stage. While he continues to do very nicely thank you, Jack has lived the dream – by playing Joseph on tour.

After a spell as The Narrator in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice show, he finally pulled on that amazing dreamcoat and toured for two years in the part. Now he’s back for another 12-week stint that takes in Darlington next week, followed by York and Scarborough.

“I love the show, I have a passion for the part. It’s a new cast as well and that changes it,” he says.

He even calls the touring aspect “quite fun”… explaining, “A different town each week means a new audience and you get to see different places.”

But ten shows a week demands a high degree of fitness as well as dedication. In fact, he’s outside a gym waiting to go in when we speak. Regular visits are needed to keep in shape for those Joseph loincloth scenes. It’s part of his routine.

“I like to go to the gym during the week, after or before the show,” he says. “I like to chill and make my dinner and try not to go out too much and not drink alcohol.”

Keeping his voice in shape is important too. He’s only missed four shows in two years, which is a pretty good record for so many productions a week.

A virus laid him low for two shows, while he was also told to rest his voice for fear of losing it on another occasion.

IN the four years since Any Dream Will Do, he’s done concert work, appeared in pantomime and in the premiere of a new musical Only The Brave at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “That was an amazing experience being at the festival. The show was incredible and has so much potential,” he says. He’s also released two albums. His debut, This Time, made the top 40. His most recent is An Evening At The Musicals.

“I always said I would love to do an album. You always have a dream as a little boy to be a recording artist and, after the programme, I got the chance. Now we talking about a third one,” he says.

His ambition – and he’s not ready for it yet – is to play The Phantom Of The Opera in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. “I am a few years away from that,” says 24-year-old Jack.

He’s already fulfilled one ambition by opening a theatre school in Edinburgh for seven to 18-yearolds.

He’s pleased with how it’s going. “We have teachers and if I can get there I do. It’s one of my passions to teach others what I’m learning. Things move so quickly in this business with new techniques all the time,” he says.

“We’ve had Connie Fisher and people from Les Mis visiting the school. The kids have gained so much. It’s great to see them get inspired.”

He was involved with amateur companies when he was younger, but nothing like what he’s providing for his students. “I loved singing and stuff, but it was not as cool back them. There are a lot of boys who want to do it now,” he says.

  •  Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Darlington Civic Theatre, Sept 18- 22. Box Office: 01325-486555 and darlingtonarts.co.uk Scarborough Futurist Theatre, Oct 2-6. 01723- 365789/374500 York Grand Opera House, Nov 6-10. 0844- 8713024 and atgtickets.com/york