Helen French, 30, from South Shields, got through to the final 18 in BBC1 programme I'd Do Anything.

The programme, hosted by Graham Norton, aims to find a Nancy and three Olivers to play the leads in Cameron Mackintosh's forthcoming revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver!

From thousands of Nancys, Miss French made it through auditions, callbacks and 'Nancy School' but missed out in the final cull.

To see Helen's I'd Do Anything audition click here

After performing in front of a celebrity audience, including Barbara Windsor and previous talent show winners Lee Mead - who was picked to play Joseph - and Connie Fisher - picked to be Maria - a tearful Miss French said: "What an immense feeling that was."

She was asked to sing again before judges at Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's mansion, where she belted out It's a Fine Life with fellow contestant Cleopatra.

While panellist Barry Humphries, who played Fagin in the original production, said: "I'm a big fan of Helen", Mackintosh said he didn't see the 'rawness of Nancy' and she didn't make it to the next round.

Breaking the bad news Lord Lloyd Webber said: "I think that the role of Nancy needs something which in a way – and this is very hard for me to say – is a little bit rawer, a little bit less polished than perhaps you would be in the role and I have to say you're not Nancy darling, but you are something else – I know."

Miss French, a former Mortimer Comprehensive and South Tyneside College pupil, was born Helen Gavin but changed her name for stage purposes.

She made her West End debut in Les Misérables, playing Cosette, and studied opera at the Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music.

To see how the other Nancys get on tune into I'd Do Anything on Saturdays on BBC1.