A MUSICAL theatre actor from Bradford is hoping to shine this weekend on Gary Barlow’s new TV talent show.

Tomorrow viewers will watch Danny Colligan, 24, audition on Let It Shine, BBC One’s search for young performers to play a boy band in a new show based on Take That songs.

Danny, known as Danny Gregory to friends in Bradford,will face a judging panel comprising Gary Barlow, Martin Kemp from Spandau Ballet, Australian singer Dannii Minogue and guest judge, musical theatre star Amber Riley. Let It Shine is presented by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc.

Gary Barlow has written the major new stage show, called The Band. He and the other judges are looking for five talented boys who can not only sing and dance, but have the charisma, showmanship and stage presence that catapulted Take That to fame. The boys also need to show they have the talent and stamina to star in the musical, touring the UK later this year.

The first stage of Let It Shine shows hopefuls at a series of auditions, filmed at MediaCity in Salford.

Those who are picked for the next stage will appear on live shows in February. Superstar singer Lulu will join the second stage of the competition.

Danny grew up in Clayton until the age of 16, then moved to Bingley where he lived until going to drama school. He went to St Bede’s School in Heaton.

In February 2015 the Telegraph & Argus reported on Danny making his West End debut in the hit show The Book of Mormon. He took to the stage as one of the ‘Mormon boys’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre, near London’s Leicester Square.

A former student of Stage 84 theatre school in Idle, he has also appeared in Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2014.

Let It Shine is on BBC One tomorrow at 7pm.

Danny’s progress can be followed on twitter @DannyColliganUK or his Facebook page – Danny Colligan.

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