Gareth Gates has been announced as Lee Meads replacement in the West End production of Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The former Pop Idol contestant has revealed that he is thrilled to have landed the role as he credits that particular show with his decision to become a singer.

“I have a lot to thank Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for as it is the reason I first started singing, after being chosen to play the lead in a school production when I was eight years old,” he said.

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Former Pop Idol contestant, Gareth Gates is rumoured to have landed the lead role in the West End production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Following in the footsteps of BBC talent show winner Lee Mead, Heat magazine reports that Gates will appear as Joseph from January after playing Prince Charming in Wimbledon Theatre’s panto Cinderella.

Simon Cowell is said to be on the lookout for a young male judge for next year’s X Factor and Gareth Gates is said to be a front runner for the job.

An insider told The Daily Star: “Like Cheryl, Gareth knows all about this sort of show as he was runner-up in the first Pop Idol series in 2002.

Gareth has a huge fan base and has sold more than 3.5million records.

Although he’s not recording any more, he knows better than most what competitions like the X Factor are all about.”

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Pop Idol winner, Gareth Gates has admitted that he loves Holly Willoughby’s daring Dancing On Ice outfits that have been making the headlines this year.

Gareth, who got booted off Dancing On Ice this Sunday thinks that Holly is right to show off what she’s got, but he admits that he is more of a bum man!

Gareth confessed to Star magazine: “I’ve known Holly for years. She’s one of my good friends. I think she looks absolutely amazing. She looks hot! If you have a nice pair, why not show them?

“I’m more about the bum. I preferred Holly’s backless dress!”

Gareth is due to marry his fiance Suzanne this summer and he revealed that although he is only 23, the pair are desperate to start a family straight away. Read more & comment »

Here is one of the first interviews with Gareth Gates since he was booted off Dancing On Ice last night.

Gareth appeared on This Morning with Phil and Fern today and if I’m not mistaken judge Jason actually displayed signs that he might have a heart! What a shocker!!!

Despite being tipped this week as the winner of this years Dancing On Ice, Gareth Gates has been knocked out of the competition in tonight’s semi final.

Gareth went up against Zaraah Abrahams in the skate off, and despite the fact that it is Zaraahs THIRD time in the bottom two, Zaraah was saved once more.

On hearing the news Gareth Gates said: “I have fought out there and that is all I could’ve done, its been fantastic and I love Maria to bits. Thank you to everyone”

I thought Gareth was great tonight, and much more confident than usual, however, Zaraah was astounding on the ice. Her lifts were great and her second performance in particular was flawless. Read more & comment »

Bookies all over the UK are said to be quaking in their boots at the prospect of Gareth Gates winning this years Dancing On Ice contest.

From early on bookies have been tipping Suzanne Shaw or Chris Fountain to win the show, but sources have revealed to the Daily Star that Gareth Gates is quickly becoming the secret favourite to win. A result that would dearly cost the bookmakers.

“In Pop Idol six years ago, Gareth was a shy lad with a stammer who the nation adored.

“Now he’s grown into a young man who has conquered his speech problems and has learned a new skill on the ice. His fans keep growing week by week. Read more & comment »

Gareth Gates had the wits scared out of him last night as he encountered a crazed fan in his dressing room for ITV’s Dancing On Ice.

The love struck fan had managed to sneek past security and was hiding in Gareth’s dressing room, when he popped back to change she lunged at him, covering him in kisses!

Gareth managed to raise the alarm, and some minders promptly removed the girl.

A source told The Daily Star: Read more & comment »

Dancing On Ice competitors, Greg Rusedski And Gareth Gates, have been struck down by a severe tummy bug. The illness has left them unable to do any real training this week and now they only have three full days in which to learn their new routines.

A show source told The Sun: “The boys are really sick. It’s hard because they’re both competitive and just want to get out there.

“The other stars hope this means they’ve got the edge.”

Bonnie Langford revealed the secret behind Gareth Gates’ convincing Chicago inspired ice performance last night - visits to the West End’s current Billy Flynn - Duncan James.

Bonnie, who is performing in Chicago alongside Duncan, told GMTV’s Lorraine Kelly just how serious Gareth took his musical Dancing on Ice routine, saying: “Gareth came into the show the other day and worked with Duncan. He got a few tips and I think he took it onboard… he was definitely trying to be Billy Flynn.”

Having stared in the first series of Dancing on Ice, Bonnie talked of her surprise at Linda Lusardi’s recent comments about being envious of her bum. Read more & comment »

Dancing On Ice competitor, Gareth Gates has been ordered to have no more fake tans by ITV bosses.

Last week all the male skaters went off to have their fake tans applied, but Gareth was not amongst them as show producers thought that the Pop Idol winner was looking like a bit of an oompa loompa.

A show source told The Sun: “Gareth was overdoing it, so the other blokes went off for a tan without him. It looks like he’s been Tangoed.”

Pop star Gareth Gates, 23, is putting his all into Dancing On Ice and admits that his competitive nature means that he’s in it to win.

“I’ve always been a hard worker and I always like to put 100% in. I think it would be boring if it wasn’t a challenge so I’m looking forward to it. I’m a very competitive person and I thrive under pressure, so we’ll see what happens. I keep on saying to Maria, we have to focus on winning but she’s like:‘No,there’s no point…just focus on you,and what you can do and being the best that you can be’.”

Thrilled to have nabbed Maria Filippov as his skating partner, the pair are getting on well as friends and this is reflected in their performance on the ice.

“Maria’s amazing. She’s the most amazing skater and the most beautiful person.We’re really getting on well. That was one of my
main concerns [the skating partner] and so getting a partner that I can be friends with was so important for me.” Read more & comment »

Is it just me or is anyone else quite excited to see Gareth Gates back on primetime TV? Don’t get me wrong, I never fancied the little stammering cutie, but mother him I could!

I think Gareth always came across as seriously likeable, and very talented. It will be nice to have him back on this years Dancing On Ice…..though I can’t really imagine him ice skating. I wonder if he’ll be any good?

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return ready to put a brand new team of well known names through their paces to prepare them for the ultimate live ice dancing championship.

This year the Dancing On Ice twelve contestants are: Javelin champion Steve Backley, Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain, pop star Gareth Gates, TV presenter Sarah Greene, Emmerdale actress Linda Lusardi, TV presenter and cleaning guru Aggie Mackenzie, singer Samantha Mumba, TV presenter Natalie Pinkham, tennis star Greg Rusedski, singer and actress Suzanne Shaw, GMTV reporter Michael Underwood, and TV presenter Tim Vincent. Check our site tomorrow for the full celebrity profiles and official Dancing On Ice pictures.

With expectation higher than ever, and performances set to be even more spectacular, our twelve novice skaters have their work cut out to make the grade. Paired with a champion skating partner, and coached by the superstar duo, they will take to the rink, hoping to impress with their glittering costumes, daring moves and slick routines. Read more & comment »

Gareth, looking as clean and innocent as he did five years ago when he disappeared from the public eye, showed a maturity beyond his twenty two years as he openly discussed his unfortunate entanglement with the notorious Jordan, his present girl friend and hopes for the future. His come back is most welcome as this young man has a unique voice and personality that can only enrich our lives. He has totally overcome his stammer and is now helping others who have the same affliction.

He talked openly about his disastrous three month fling with Jordan. He spoke about being a seventeen year old family and religious boy, a virgin who was too much for the likes of Jordan to resist as she pursued him (his words) and corrupted his life. Apparently, she moved on happily and left the broken young boy behind. They had both agreed to keep the affair a secret because she was pregnant with another man’s baby and he was ashamed of his relationship with her. He kept his side of the bargain but she, to his shock and amazement, sold the story to the press. What type of woman is this Jordan? His greatest regret was having lied about the relationship to his family and especially to his mother who he is, unashamedly, very close to calling her his closest friend. So refreshing to see a young man not ashamed to declare his love for his mother stating that he honestly did not care what others thought of this..

We saw very little of his girlfriend of four years, who seems to be a very pretty, talented girl, a dancer and model, as careful as he is with her words and in full support of Gareth’s hoped for return to the music world.

It was sad to hear that Simon Cowell apparently dropped him five years ago, as did the company he had a record contract with, as he had been his mentor all along in Pop Idol (where Gareth came second to Will Smith) but Gareth has said that he is happy to be a free agent who writes his own songs.

Welcome back Gareth Gates we wish you every success in your venture.

This article was written by Evelyn Lewis. Thanks Evelyn!