NIALL SHEEHY IS one of two Irish men who has made the last eleven of the new ITV reality competition Superstar which is searching for the next man to play the lead role in the hit play Jesus Christ Superstar.
Wicklow-born Sheehy, 31, will appear on the first of ten live shows being broadcast over the next ten nights on ITV and 3e as composer Andrew Lloyd Webber searches for the next Jesus to feature in the arena tour of his hit show.
Also competing is Jeff Anderson, a 21 year-old singer from Newtownards in Co Down, who will be hoping to impress judges including Lloyd Webber, actress Dawn French and singer Jason Donovan.
From auditions, the pair were selected as part of a group of 30 who went to Mallorca in Spain where they were whittled down to 20 and then last night the final 11 were announced in London.
The prize is the lead role in a play that will tour the UK and Ireland including the O2 later this year and starring alongside former Spice Girl Mel C and the comedian and songwriter Tim Minchin.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Niall’s sister Eimile said the family were looking forward to the next week-and-a-half: “We’re all hopeful that Niall will do really well.
“He’s always loved the show and this opportunity came along, he said he’d give it a shot and see what happens. Fortunately everyone so far has loved him.”
Eimile, a PhD student at UCD, and her mother have travelled over to London to support Niall with her sister joining them tomorrow and their father coming later in the week if Niall is still in with a chance.
But the 25-year-old hopes there will be support from home too: “Ireland should be very proud of getting a Jesus in the top 10,” Eimile joked.
“It was only announced last night but it’s snowballing from there and we’ve had super support. All we can hope is that people will vote for him.”
Niall, who moved to London five years ago, has been working as an actor since graduating with masters in Performing Arts and Eimile is hopeful that this latest endeavour can at the very least make her brother a household name.
“To get to the live shows is just a huge achievement in itself. Whatever happens from here, he’s done himself proud and he’s done us proud,” she added.
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