It seems that Cameron Mackintosh was so worried about Jodie Prengers acting skills that he has enrolled her for a crash acting course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Jodie won BBC talent search, I’d Do Anything in May, but rumours persisted that Mackintosh would rather have had Rachel Tucker for the role.

Jodie admitted to The Sun: “Singing live on Saturday night TV in front of millions of people was not nearly as scary as tackling Shakespeare at RADA.”

Last night, a source said: “Jodie is not a fully-trained actress and Cameron just wanted to make sure she’s up to scratch by the time rehearsals start in October.”