Teenager Jamie Muscato is swapping his schoolbooks for songsheets to perform in a television singing contest.

The 15-year-old, of Hendon Street, Brighton, was transformed into musical theatre star Michael Crawford to appear on ITV1's Stars In Their Eyes Kids tonight.

Jamie, an aspiring actor, was shocked when he received a call from the show's producers asking him to attend an audition.

Unbeknown to him, his mum, Debby, had sent in a recording of her son belting out classic show tunes.

Jamie said: "I was a bit apprehensive at first but I am really glad I did it now. I had to go up to London for a couple of auditions and then to Manchester for rehearsals and choreography.

"I don't know if I look particularly like Michael Crawford - I had to grow my hair longer so the costume department could dye it and curl it. I had a gorgeous black suit to wear and luckily they didn't make me do too much dancing."

The song Jamie will perform is a closely-guarded secret but he is confident viewers will recognise it. Neither is he allowed to reveal whether he made it through to the final of the competition.

The performance, recorded in November, was especially tense for Jamie as he began to suffer from a sore throat.

He said: "I have been on stage a lot but I was very nervous this time because all that week my throat felt terrible. I had to see the television company's nurse and try to get better in time."

Jamie's first role at the age of eight was as a Lost Boy in a production of Peter Pan. He has his own agent and hopes to study drama at university before pursuing an acting career.

But the first his school friends at Cardinal Newman in the Upper Drive, Hove, will know of their pal's television appearance is when they flick on their sets.

He said: "I haven't really told anyone so I'm not sure what reaction I will get when I get to school on Monday. It will be a complete surprise."

Mum Debby said: "Sending off the tape was a bit sneaky of me but I thought I would just do it and Jamie could decide if he wanted to be on the show if it turned out they were interested.

"I'm really looking forward to watching him on the television, I'll be so proud."

Tune in to Stars In Their Eyes Kids on ITV1 at 5.55pm tonight.