A young performer says he is "living his dream" after being snapped up by Disney.

Christian Nowak from Workington has landed his dream job with the entertainment giant, after beating off competition from thousands of other hopefuls.

The 26-year-old will travel to Florida next week to start training for his new role as an entertainer on the Disney cruise line.

Christian went to London to audition for the job in February last year but only found out he had been successful two weeks ago.

He said: "It's always been my dream to work for Disney. I queued for about four hours because there were thousands of people there.

"I managed to get to the final 20 and the final five boys. I got put on the Disney books and didn't hear anything through Covid.

"Then two weeks ago they rang me and said I'd got a job as a performer on the Disney Wonder cruise ship."

Christian will be singing and dancing in the production shows, as well as doing character work.

The cruise ship will travel around the USA and surrounding countries - with stops at San Diego, Texas and Mexico, as well as Disney's own private island, Castaway Cay, in the Bahamas.

"We're big fans of Disney so we've been watching the vlogs on YouTube. I've always wanted to go there one day and now I get to go."

Christian will be on the ship for the next four months and hopes to embark on a long-term career with the company.

"I would love to work in the parks at Disney World - at Magic Kingdom in the shows by the castle. I'd love to work in the parades.

"The company are so loyal.

"When people say your dreams don't come true - it did for me.

"I had to beat off loads of people in the audition. It was so intense."

The die-hard Disney fan said he had always wanted to work for the company after holidaying at Disney World in Florida many times.

His sister, Kim even had a Disney-themed wedding in 2019, where Christian gave a Disney-inspired wedding speech.

He previously worked for P&O Cruises and the Cunard Queen Elizabeth Cruise ship.

Christian trained at Stage Right Youth Theatre and performed in six pantomimes at the Sands Centre. He went on to study performing arts at Phil Winston's Theatre School in Blackpool for three years.