NORTHWICH entertainer Tom Hewson is being groomed to become the next Billy Elliot in the smash hit musical.

The Rudheath High School student, who celebrates his 13th birthday on Friday, was picked out from hundreds of young hopefuls at auditions in Leeds.

Ever since then he has been attending intensive training sessions to equip him for his possible new role and on Sunday embarks on a seven week course in London.

His mum Sally says: “They seemed really pleased with him at the auditions and arranged for him to have ballet and tap sessions in Leeds on Saturdays and more recently in Manchester as well.

“We were thrilled when he was invited to the summer school in London for further training and hope it leads to something.

“The role of Billy Elliot is perfect because its about a boy who loves to dance and that’s Tom to a ‘t’.”

Last year the versatile youngster was chosen to take on a Harry Potter style apprenticeship on the hit CBBC series The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

The show followed the fortunes of Tom and 13 other students in a Hogwart’s style boarding school with the goal of finding an apprentice to a professional magician.