IT’S NOT every pregnant woman who has a craving to become a nun.

But that’s what Windygates woman Louise Davidson wanted more than anything when she auditioned for the BBC reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

The aim of the programme is to find a singer to star as convent heroine Maria Von Trapp in a West End version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music, to be produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Louise (23), who currently lives in Belfast with fiance Damian Cole, was five months pregnant when she was told she was one of 40 finalists picked from thousands of aspiring stage singers. At this stage she started fretting about how she would explain her bump to the producers—and to Mr Lloyd Webber.

When she discovered she hadn’t made it to the final 10 she admits she was half disappointed and half relieved.

“I was only three months pregnant when I went along for the first audition and I honestly didn’t think I’d be called back,” she explained.

“But then I got asked to attend a further two auditions in Belfast and was later told I would be getting flown down to London for the final auditions and to take part in a workshop.

“The whole experience was incredible. I was so proud of myself and even though my bump was growing all the time, I was quite neat and not showing all that much.

“I didn’t mean to deceive anyone. I just didn’t think I would get as far as I did, and then when I realised I was in with a chance of actually getting the role, I didn’t want my pregnancy to be the reason I didn’t get it.

“When I finally told the producers they were shocked I had managed to keep it a secret but they were really nice about it—I think they were more concerned about me because of the rigorous training.”

The former Kirkland High pupil said her final auditions were “a bit like the X Factor” with judges David Ian, Zoe Tyler and John Barrow-man giving frank and sometimes brutal opinions. Mr Webber was not on the panel but had a say in the final decision.

“I was nervous about meeting him as I thought he would be a lot more extrovert but was surprised to discover he’s actually a very timid and shy man,” said Louise. “He was very nice though and good at encouraging us to do our best.”

She went on, “I am due in November and the show doesn’t start until after that so I could have done it after giving birth, but the training would have been exhausting and it wouldn’t exactly be ideal with a new baby!”

Louise has been invited, with other finalists, to London next month for a live TV broadcast of the show and a two-day masterclass run by BBC New Talent.

As for who she would like to win, there’s no question in Louise’s mind. “Everyone in the final 10 is really talented, but I’m rooting for Aoife Mulholland from Galway.”