Sam Tutty, 21, born in Crawley, West Sussex, attended his first ever professional audition for the lead role in Dear Evan Hansen in February, leaving that casting unsuccessful.

However, after signing with an agent, Tutty tried again and won the lead role in the West End production of the smash hit Broadway play, after being called in 13 times by the casting team before being flown to New York for final auditions. The recent Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts graduate made his professional debut in August, appearing in musical Once On This Island at the Southwark Playhouse, and The Daily Mail has already spotlighted him as ‘The West End’s hottest new leading man’ ahead of the show’s anticipated opening on October 29.