North Wales teen hopes to represent Britain in Eurovision Song Contest

Jan 5 2009 By Justine Bailey

THE parents of a North Wales singer are thrilled after their son made it to the final six hopefuls to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Mark Evans, of Llanrhaeadr near Denbigh, was watched by millions when he appeared on BBC1 talent show Your Country Needs You on Saturday night.

Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber picked him for his final six.

The ultimate winner will have a song specially written for them by the world-famous composer.

Proud parents Myfyr and Sue Evans watched as Mark sang Bridge Over Troubled Water in an audition on the show, hosted by Graham Norton.

Myfyr, 56, said: "We are very excited and very proud. We knew he’d gone through to the final six because it was pre-recorded.

"We’ve videoed it and have been rewinding it and watching it over and over again.

"I spoke to Mark last night and he was very pleased. My wife and I and our daughter Tracey and another son Ian hope to go to the studio to watch the next live episode."

Mark is a singer, dancer and actor who now lives in London.

On the Your Country Needs You website he lists his likes as his new flat in Forest Hill, his family and Wales. He dislikes being away from home for too long.

Mark’s first performance was singing Walking in the Air in Welsh in the local supermarket.

He was keen on performing while at Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph and was head boy at Laine Theatre Arts College in Surrey.

His career really took off when he made his West End debut in Spamalot before playing heart throb Troy in High School Musical earlier this year.

He’s performed in the tour of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. And he’s danced in routines with Will Young, Gareth Gates, Liberty X, Westlife, Ronan Keating and Charlotte Church. Currently, he’s Prince Charming in panto at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

In October, Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that he had been asked by the BBC to compose the UK entry for Eurovision 2009.

He accepted and also agreed to help find and mentor the acts, from which one will eventually be selected to perform his song.