TV star Ashley still waiting on job call from Lloyd Webber

May 18 2008 By Gayle Ritchie

I'D DO Anything star Ashley Russell yesterday revealed Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber offered her a job - after giving her a doing on prime time TV.

The Scots drama teacher was booted out of the BBC talent show after judges slaughtered her performance.

Lloyd Webber told the 24-year-old after she sang Say A Little Prayer For You: "The way you sang that line, 'I run for the bus dear,' you should be on the next bus."

In an earlier show, fellow Scot John Barrowman told her to "rough it up a bit. Be less Falkirk and more Glasgow".

But in a dramatic turnaround after the show, Lloyd Webber told her she was a "fantastic performer" and pledged to further her career.

Ashley said: "I was pretty hurt by the comments but I dealt with the criticism in a dignified manner.

"At the end of the day, Andrew wants to work with me, so he must like me. I guess he felt I wasn't suited to the character of Nancy but I'm thrilled he thinks highly enough of me to offer me a job, whatever it is."

The winner of the show will earn the lead female role in Lloyd Webber's West End production of Oliver.

Ashley, who teaches drama part-time, was sacked from a debt collecting job the day before her first Nancy audition.

She thought she would have to go back to the classroom after being booted off.

But Lloyd Webber promised to call her over the next few days.

She said: "I don't know the ins and outs of the job but it's more than I could've dreamed of."

Meanwhile she is planning a busy week back home in Falkirk.

She said: "I've got so many people to visit to thank for believing in me."

Her proud gran Isabella Baldi, 75, said: "With Lloyd Webber's support, she'll go on to bigger and better things."