Any Dream Will Do: Lee Mead… Not Quite An Amateur
Another show, another scandal. The Sunday Mirror revealed yesterday that Any Dream Will Do finalist, Lee Mead, was not quite the amateur that the public might have thought.
Lee recently played the Pharaoh in a touring production of Joseph, and his current part in another Andrew Lloyd Webber show, Phantom Of The Opera, is on hold until the programme concludes.
I’m betting that the Sunday Mirror have known this for weeks, but held off on reporting it until they knew i he made the final 12 or not…so is the show a fix? What do you think?
Loading ...
April 10th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Does it matter that he’s a professional? There was never any suggestion that the TV programme was open only non professionals. It was open to all regardless of experience.
Lee Mead isn’t the only professional performer in there. Daniel Boys has experience too.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:39 am
I think he deserves to be there as much as the rest of them, most have had training of some kind, we should be encouraging people for their hard work, the theatre proffession is a tough one, raw talent is only the start of it. I wish the guy all the luck in following his dreams of playing a lead. He certainly has the talent.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:49 am
It didn’t matter that “Sound of Music” discovery Connie Fisher had had professional training. I think the problem with Lee Mead is his association with tv “Dream” judge Bill Kenwright….
April 12th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Well I would like to say that its all very strange that Bill Kenwright who is on the panel Knows Lee Mead Very well ,he employed him to play Pharoah on the No1 UK Tour of Joseph in 2004,it’s Funny the BBC do not mention this on his Profile that he has already been in the show ,Phantom ,Yes Miss Siagon, yes Tommy,yes But Hmmm where does it mention him being in joseph???????,It Looks as though Andrew Lloyd Webber and the BBC are trying to pull the wool over the publics eyes ,why cant they be honest and just say he’s been in Joseph already???
April 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I think it’s real unfair that people are judging on experience. And it obviously affected the judges last night as the profession was bought up more then once. I’s not on. They all have experience with singing, and just because Lee has gone further than the most of them, doesn’t mean he has more of a chance of winning. Everyone has their favourites right?
When i saw lee live at the pilot, i thought he was amazing, but it’s a good competition and personally i think craig has an amazing chance.
It’s a competition, win or lose they’re all as good as each other!
Nuff said!
April 15th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
My cousin should not be singled out for the fact he has alot of experience in the theatre.
it did not say anything about proffesionals & non professionals, he has always wanted to play this part so he is fighting for his dream. leave him be.
he is an amazing actor, singer, dancer and cousin.
April 21st, 2007 at 11:21 pm
The show announced it themselves. It’s no secret.
April 21st, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I’ve just watched the show, and I thought as soon as Lee sang, “He’s going to win”.. I’m usually right about these things…
So it’s no suprise to me that he’s already an accomplished performer… But so is Lewis… I don’t think it’s going to be fixed, because if you look at the judges comments, they are FAR nicer to the other finalists. I am sure he is going to be the one who wins. Not because it’s fixed. He’s just talented and a great performer.
April 28th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Where shall I start??? Mr Daniel Boyse admitted tonight on the programme that he has also been in the westend! So what the programme is a fix for both of them??? I think not. The problem with this is, people need to see this for what it is, and that is Lee trying to get the job he wants. Just cause he got off of his backside and went after his dreams doesnt mean hes any less deserving of the job. AND Connie FIsher was a professional…..
GOOD LUCK MR MEAD YOU DESERVE THIS.
April 29th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
The point is though ,this is supposed to be a search for a star not the relaunching of a lesser known star . Lee is getting very slow ballads to sing while everyone else is having to dance around while singing awkward songs like keith’s crocodile rock( which he performed great BTW) It stinks of a set up.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Did everyone not already know this?! i remember hearing about this waaaaaay before he made the top 12! and i don’t care! an understudy is very different from a leading man! and he’s fabulous and gorgeous and talented! and perfect for joseph!
he said it in the programme himself did he not?
April 29th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
If he was breaking the rules he would of never made the finals… and i’m glad he did cause hes excellent and he deserves to be where he is!!!
April 29th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Nobody said they had to be amateurs, it’s open to anyone. Same with the Maria show and Lee has been completely open every time he’s been interviewed. Same with Connie Fisher and some of the Marias. No way is ALW going to cast an amateur in such an important part.
The newspaper stuff is just hype.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:19 am
If Andy thinks that Lee getting the slow songs is favouritism he should have a chat with a vocal coach. Belting out fast songs with a loud orchestra covers far more ‘off notes’ than anything Lee has done. Check out his expression, his body language - and that kiss!
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
What does it matter that Lee is a professional? After the first four being eliminated, everyone left in the competition have experience except Rob. Keith, who is publicised as a supermarket worker, is also studying musical theatre at university. And Daniel has done more West End than Lee has. But most of all, everyone has the right to be on this show - experience or not.
May 2nd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
He admitted from the start that he was in Phantom, so I don’t see what the fuss is about! Talent is what matters, and that is only aided, but not created, by experience.
May 6th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Hi I use to go to school with lee and all that I can say is that this is something that he has really wanted to do and I wish him all the luck in the world so go for it m8
May 9th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Just to add my voice to the masses, it definetely doesn’t matter that he’s a professional. I’m sure lots of professionals are annoyed that Lord Webber keeps picking his stars through a TV show, rather than from established talent. So what does it matter that one of them wanted it enough to go through this process to get the part (setting aside the other professionals/semi-professionals involved). Good on him!
Also, I’m sure Bill Kenwright said on the show that he’s worked with Lee previously, so it isn’t a secret!
Good luck Lee, I’m rooting for you to win!
May 24th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Of course it doesn’t matter that lee’s been in shows before! it just shows that he’s right for the job!
even if he didnt have any experience, he’s got the looks and the best voice out of all of them. i like the others but lee suits the part so much more.
im sure that all the guys in the comp have had some kind of experience. if you really wanted to be snooty you could claim a school play was experience!!
i doubt very much that anyone in that competition is a total amateure.
lee earned my respect through his singing on the show, not because he’d been in shows before!
i don’t think it’s a scandal, the show has always admitted lee’s past as far as i could tell. i’m pretty sure it’s on the website!
good luck lee, i’ll be voting!! you’re the best out there by far!
xxx
May 27th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
come on guys… get a grip!! Lee is clearly the only contestant that would be able to cope with the strain of playing such a huge role, both vocally and mentally. He’s the only one I’d pay to see… he totally deserves to go all the way. Besides, he has never played a main role. Although the article suggests that he was Pharoh on the West End, he was in fact the understudy, and only ever performed in two out of 200 shows. He deserves as much of a chance as any of the others.
May 27th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I agree hannah! It doesn’t make any sense to prejudice against somebody who is the best for the role. Take a look at last year: Connie had been in west end shows as an understudy & was clearly the perfect one for the role. As a keen dramatist and musician myself, it is clear that Lee is miles ahead of the other lads, so why shouldn’t he get the job?
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
I think that Lee is an amazing singer and actor and just because he has experience doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be in the show. He has had ups and downs just like all the other contestants. I think that Lee would make a great Joseph and i would only go and watch it if he gets the role because i think he is the best for it. I think he even looks like a good Joseph and therefore should get the role i think he has put as much work in as the other lads and deserves it.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Don’t know what all the fuss is about - we all knew Lee has worked professionally. I think I could watch and enjoy Joseph with any one of the last 3 as the lead so I don’t really mind who wins. But, GO LEE!!!
June 9th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
I wish I had put money on Lee with Ladbrokes at the start because just like Connie Fisher last year he has been promised the part from the start . Yes he`s good and yes its been a great show but the idea that somehow its a fair competition is not strictly true I think . As soon as I saw his corkscrew curls I knew he`d been hand picked for the part . I am sick of the public being treated like fools -we`re not you know!!!!
June 10th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Lee is the best of everything anyway. The show will definitely make lots of money from Lee. More fans will want to see him and pay a vasit to celebrate his talent. I admire Lee because I am proud of his strong performance ability. He deserves it. Don’t worry what people say Lee, they jealous you. You will be the best on the show.
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:07 pm
hi i think lee is the most best sxcest man i have ever seen even more than eminem and i luv him but luv lee more i think he is great i am soooooooo pleased lee won