Ref. 28699-2AN Anglo-Italian shop assistant from Swindon is off to tour the world with the hit Irish dance show Lord of the Dance without even being called for an audition.

It is a dream come true for dancer Oliver Gemoli, who will be watched on stage in Italy by his uncle and later in South Africa by his aunt.

"I was completely shocked," said the 17-year-old, of Devon Road, Rodbourne.

"One of the producers texted me and asked me to phone. I thought it was about getting an audition, but he just asked: 'When can you start?' They must have seen me dance at one of the London competitions."

The youngster has already gone a long way in Irish dancing after coming 19th in the World Irish Dancing Championships last year. He is also the Southern area under-17 champion.

And now he is packing his bags ready for Friday when he travels to Bournemouth for a month of rehearsals with the new cast. Then they head to Florence, before spending eight weeks in South Africa.

"It is very strange but there is no Irish connection in the family," he said. His father Franco is Italian and his mother, Bev, comes from Blackburn.

"We are very, very proud of him and the fact that he is going to live his dream," said Mr Gemoli. "It is something that he has wanted from a very early age."

Neither his parents, nor his brother Louis, 18, had any interest in Irish dancing, although his father was a member of a successful amateur dramatics group while he was at college.

But when six-year-old Oliver saw a preview of the show on TV he was hooked.

He used to practise for hours in front of the video until joining the Boyd School of Irish Dancing at the age of 11.

"I think they wanted to get me out of the house because of the row I was making," said the lad who used to be known to neighbours as River Boy. "I wasn't doing the floors any good either."

Before long he was bringing home medals and trophies.

Teacher Ian Boyd was thrilled when he heard the news.

"I am absolutely delighted for him. He has worked really, really hard to get to where he is now.

"He came to me at 11 and said he wanted to be a champion. He has done that and now he has achieved this fantastic feat."

Tina Clarke