James-Ellis was one of the finalists on "Any Dream Will Do" a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. The show searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". He was in the bottom two in the first live show on 14 April alongside Chris Crosby, with Crosby having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "Bridge over Troubled Water". Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Ellis and eliminate Crosby. He was again in the sing-off in Week three on 28 April alongside Seamus Cullen with Cullen having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". Lloyd Webber chose to save Ellis and eliminate Cullen.