'Any Dream Will Do' winner Lee Mead will drive himself to the brink of exhaustion when he takes up his starring West End role.
The 25-year-old performer, from Essex, has pledged to work solidly for six months despite sparking concerns about his health.
Connie Fisher, who won 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?', fell ill during 'The Sound of Music's run, but Lee is convinced he can cope with the pressure of performing eight times a week on stage.
"I don’t want to say how far I can go because they might not give me a break,” he tells Heat magazine.
"But a ball park estimate is six months. I truly believe it is about your lifestyle and how you look after yourself. My life revolves around my work and I’m passionate about what I do. I’ll be looking after myself.
"Connie had a tougher role with more singing. I am leading this show but it’s fine. I’ve understudied shows that were vocally bigger than this."
