An actor from the Lyric’s young theatre who borrowed his friend’s guitar for auditions has reached the grand final of a national singing competition.

George Pelham, 19, of Fulham, is among six people in the 16-20 year old category to make it through from the London and East Area regional final to the grand final of Open Mic UK in Birmingham on January 18.

His YouTube video of Justin Bieber’s hit Baby sung in an R&B style interpretation attracted the attention of the public and the judges because it was a fresh take on the song.

“I'd never thought I’d get this far, I thought I wouldn’t get past the first round,” said Mr Pelham.

Mr Pelham, who entered the competition in the summer said he always wanted to perform and from the age of 12, and used to practise singing and playing guitar in his room.

He added: “I’d never sung or played seriously. I even had to borrow my friend’s guitar for the first three rounds of the competition, so hopefully I will get a guitar for Christmas.”

Mr Pelham has also played leading roles in musical productions at Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre and is now in his second year of study towards a degree in acting at the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Kent.

Despite original plans to study English literature at university, he said: “I so happy it turned out this way, I love acting.”

The young performer hopes to noticed by recording companies for his singing, and in the future would love to be a singer and act for television and film.

“I admire Justin Timberlake because he both sings and acts, and I really like his songs,” he added.