A NORTH Finchley teenager has made it to the final of a new television show as it hunts for Britain's next classical music superstar.

In the first episode of Classical Star, which aired on BBC Two at 9pm on Tuesday, Tyler Rix, 14, of Chanctonbury Way, Woodside Park, got through to the last nine in the competition.

Tyler, a saxophone player, who is also one of the youngest contestants in the show, is studying for his GCSEs at Dame Alice Owen's School, in Potters Bar, and plans to become a professional musician.

He said: "The show has changed everything about how I interpret music. I'd say I did a year's worth of work in three weeks. Meeting the other contestants and being around great musicians has really helped me.

"I didn't realise I could get as far as I did, so it's given me confidence."

Tyler started playing the saxophone aged nine.

During filming, the final nine contestants spent three weeks in a house in Totteridge in an intensive programme of teaching, practice and master classes from top artists and industry specialists, to develop their performance abilities.

In each week of the five programmes, an expert judging panel will choose two contestants who will be sent home. The winner of the show will get a record deal and the chance to launch their dream career. All the contestants are aged between 12 and 19.