A talented juggler is hoping his circus skills will bag him first prize in a new television variety show with a £100,000 cash prize and a season at a Las Vegas casino up for grabs.

Paul Barbarel, 24, of Eldon Street, Preston, is hoping to beat thousands of hopefuls from around the country for a place on a pilot variety show, Paul O'Grady's Got Talent, which starts filming in September.

The former Moor Park High School student wowed judges at auditions held at the Zion Arts Centre, Hulme, Manchester, on Monday, with a four-minute juggling audition set to music from Blackpool show, Eclipse.

He has competed in dozens of competitions and even travelled with the professional American Circus for 18 months when he was just 16.

He will be staying close to the phone for the next few days hoping to get the call saying he has been chosen as one of the lucky contenders on the show, hosted by the entertainer, best known for his portrayal of Liverpool drag queen, Lily Savage.

"If I get on the show I plan to juggle with chainsaws," said Paul.

"It's pretty dangerous but I've done it before and I think it would look great. I was the only juggler at the auditions so I think I stand a really good chance."

Paul, who has been interested in juggling since his dad, John, bought him a book about it when he was 11, was stunned when he learned of the £100,000 cash prize but, he said, the cherry on the cake would be working in Las Vegas.

"It would be the ultimate to perform in a Vegas casino," said Paul, a member of Preston Circus School.

Both his father and mother, June, sisters, Claire and Angela, and brother, Lee, are 100 per cent behind him.

He said: "They want to see me get the most out of my life and I want to make them proud."

Paul O'Grady's Got Talent is expected to be shown on ITV1 later this year.