IT may not be the obvious road to stardom but one Forest of Dean budding actor is hoping playing a Radio One DJ in a musical could help him hit the big time.

Joe Taylor, from Coleford, won the national competition to play the lead in Scott Mills The Musical. He had to send in an audition video and then perform live in the final.

The 19-year-old said: "I initially entered as a bit of a joke.

"But I got through to the final 10 thanks to my audition video, then through to the final three which was when I performed live."

Joe, a student at The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (LIPA), sang Stevie Wonder's Superstition in the live final last week before a public vote crowned him the victor of 'Search For a Scott'.

"I couldn't believe it when I won, it was only meant to be a bit of fun," said Joe, a former Lakers School pupil.

"When I went down to the studio I met Scott and David Hasselhoff too, who is also involved in the musical.

"They were both really nice, it was amazing to meet them both."

He will now go onto perform in the musical which will be staged at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival which runs from August 7-31.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said Joe, who has never been to the arts festival before.

"There are a lot of crazy shows up there, but there are a lot of people talking about this one due to the national coverage so it should be really good."

A Facebook page was set up to support Joe's campaign and more than 400 people have signed up.

"My friends think it's great, they have been so supportive," he said.

"People have signed up to the Facebook group who I haven't seen or spoken to since school, it's really nice that they have given their support."