If you are a musical theatre fan, you might have noticed ITV’s newest show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream which premiered last night (October 22).

The series will see 14 of the nation’s most talented musical theatre hopefuls head to Greece, where they will compete for the lead roles of Sophie and Sky in London’s West End production of Mamma Mia!

Each episode is hosted by Zoe Ball and every week, the budding Sophies and Skys will be put through their paces by four mega judges – comedian Alan Carr, singer Jessie Ware, Frozen musical favourite Samantha Barks and Glee star Amber Riley.

The contestants will be tested on everything from singing and dancing, to acting and chemistry.

They will all be hoping to survive the eliminations and make it through to the live final in eight weeks’ time, where the public will decide who wins the role of Sophie and Sky in the West End.

Who is Leah from ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream?

Leah is 20 years old from Redcar in North Yorkshire who grew up watching Mamma Mia! and says it would be "a full circle moment" to play the role of Sophie after the ITV show.

She added: “My inner child would be screaming! I would also love to play Sophie because she is very far from me as a person and roles that I would usually go for. It would be a challenge that I am totally up for!”

Leah said so far her musical theatre journey has been “fun but tough.”

She explained: “I started out at a local dance school, I was there for a while but it eventually got really expensive, so my mum took me out.

"However, not long after that we managed to find an affordable performing arts group and I attended every week for a few years.

“I then went to college to study performing arts and I met some of my best friends and we are now at university together.

“Then one day after work I checked my emails and found one about Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream auditions. My first thought was I wouldn't get it but then I thought why not try and if not, then at least I've had some audition experience and now here I am a second-year musical theatre student on this amazing show!”

Leah revealed being on Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream “means the entire world” to her.

“This industry is full of rejections from jobs, and this was my first audition and I very luckily got a yes,” she went on to say.

“This show gives me hope and it makes me very grateful to be able to have worked with incredible people and to be a part of the wonderful Mamma Mia! family. This is also very educational for me as it's my first professional look into the industry.”

Who are the contestants on Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream?

The Sophies:

  • Desmonda, 27 from Indonesia
  • Esme, 22 from Chester
  • Leah, 20 from Redcar
  • Maddy, 20 from Bolton
  • Maisie, 22 from Margate
  • Stephanie, 22 from St Albans
  • Stevie, 22 from Glasgow

The Skys:

  • Callum, 22 from Oxfordshire
  • Craig, 26 from Perthshire
  • Darcy, 23 from Hampshire
  • Marcellus, 36 from High Wycombe
  • Owen, 25 from Belfast
  • Tobias, 22 from Somerset
  • Zachkiel, 21 from London

Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream continues on Sunday, October 29 at 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX.