It’s a long way from Airdrie to London’s West End, but young actor George Ure has made it – thanks to the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The 22-year-old has landed a lead role in the smash-hit musical Wicked, a spin-off from the L Frank Baum book which became the classic Judy Garland film.

George will be joined in the show by musical heart-throb Lee Mead, winner of the BBC TV Joseph search programme, Any Dream Will Do.

But when he got the news there was only one person he wanted to tell – his mum Mary.

George, who now lives in North London, said: “I was in my bed having a bit of a lie in. The phone went – it was my agent. He said: ‘yes, they want you to play the part’. I literally jumped out my bed. I hung up on him and phoned my mum!

“It’s daunting but because I’ve worked my way up the ranks I’m ready to do it. I didn’t always believe it would happen as it seems like a far off land at first, the West End, but that was always the aim.

“I’ve got a card here from a boy I went to school with. It says ‘to think that a boy from Airdrie would be starring in Wicked in the West End.’

“It’s a dream come true.”

George has been an understudy for the part of a munchkin called Boq in the cult musical about the two witches from the Wizard of Oz, for two years.

But from March 29 he’ll perform the role full time for eight shows a week at the capital’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

George’s mum Mary, 61, a retired assistant at Boots in Coatbridge said: “I’m very proud of him. I’ve seen him playing the part as an understudy and he was very good and has worked hard so he deserves it.”

It was George’s dad, also George, who first encouraged him on to the stage, taking him to North Lanarkshire Children’s Theatre when he was 9.

He got hooked after performing in his first show, Tin Pan Ali at Airdrie Town Hall.

Sadly George senior didn’t live to see his son go on to become a West End star.

He died in an accident at the Continental Tyres factory in Edinburgh where he worked in 1999, aged 49.

George was just 11. But he’s confident his dad knows all about his success. He said: “It’s sad”, adding he believes his dad is looking down on him."

The former St Margaret’s High School pupil will be joined in the show by Mead, who is married to stage and TV star Denise Van Outen, on May 10. He will play the romantic lead of Fiyero in the musical which has been seen by 2.5million people in London alone.

And while Lee has become a household name, many fans will be there to see George.

He’s built up a loyal following, is inundated with gifts and cards and already has half a dozen internet groups set up in his name.

But he says the attention can sometimes be scary.

“It can be intrusive. If you’re in the pub, they maybe come in and sit opposite you. I had a bit of trouble on Facebook, getting nasty messages. It can be scary, but most of them are lovely.”

George, who has a sister Lisa Ann, 28, studied at UK Theatre School in West Regent Street, RSAMD’s Junior Academy and Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts. Lizanne Thomson, principal of UK Theatre School, recalled how she spotted him in a school show and approached him to join her classes.

She said: “He’s an incredible talent and this is just the beginning.”

Aged 18, George won a scholarship to the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and George landed the role in Wicked, his favourite show, just a week after graduating.

The production, by Stephen Schwartz, has notched up £90million at the box office since it opened in September 2006.

Called “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times, it is about the friendship between the witches, popular Glinda and green girl Elphaba.

George’s character Boq is a friend of the pair and plays an important role in the story, which also features the tin man, lion and scarecrow.

The show is based on the book Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.

George said: “It’s so clever the way the stories tie in together. It’s written so well and the effects are amazing.”

As reported in the Evening Times, Boq was first performed on the London stage by another Glasgow actor, James Gillan from Pollok.

He persuaded directors the character should have a Glaswegian accent, a trait George continues.

He said: “I do it nice and loud and proud for the Scots! It goes down well.”