ITV have revealed that they will allow both women and men to audition for their new TV talent show ‘Superstar’.

The show will focus around Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hunt for a singer who can take on the lead role of Jesus in his hit rock opera, which will go on an arena tour around the UK when the series ends.

It had of course been assumed that producers of the show would be trying out male singers for the role, as obviously Jesus has generally been played by male performers to date.

However, today it has been confirmed that applications are open to women also, as the channel plan to cast their net far and wide in their hunt for talent.

A source told The Sun: “Andrew wants to create the best performance he can and if that means hiring a woman to be Jesus then so be it.

“For him it’s all about the talent.”

The move is sure to cause controversy with religious groups all over Britain, as the show did when it was first released in the 70′s.

It isn’t the first time the series – due to start on ITV this summer – has been controversial either. Just last month, original lyricist Tim Rice admitted that he was against using the show as the centre piece of a reality TV series and claimed that he may veto the choice of star when it ends.

He claimed that he had made his concerns known to Jesus Christ Superstar composer Andrew, but was in the end ignored as he penned a deal with ITV.

It is reported that Lloyd Webber will be joined on his judging panel by Steve Balsamo, who previously played Jesus in a West End revival of the show in the 90′s and also, possibly by former X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger.

Auditions for ‘Superstar’ will take place in various locations around the UK next month and you can get more details on the tryouts and apply for the ITV show here.

Also, don’t forget, if you are trying out for this or any other TV show, we have a busy auditionees forum where hopefuls share tips, advice and information with one another and also chat about their behind the scenes experiences. You can join up or have a browse here.

Do you approve of ITV’s decision to audition both men and women for the role of Jesus? Leave your comments below and be sure to follow our Superstar twitter account here.