Lee Mead has admitted that he has no plans to watch Gareth Gates as he reprises his role in the West End show ‘Joseph.’

Lee landed the role when he won BBC reality TV show ‘Any Dream Will Do’, Gates replaced Mead earlier this year.

“I don’t think it’d be fair for him to have me in the audience checking out his performance,” Mead told Celebs On Sunday magazine.

“I hear he’s in great shape, but you need to be when you spend most of the show prancing around in a loincloth.”

Gareth will need to make sure he doesn’t go commando under that loincloth as Lee revealed: “I only ever had one wardrobe malfunction, when the loincloth flew off into the orchestra pit. Thank God I had my boxer shorts on underneath.”

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.

“Ever since then it’s been a dream of mine to appear in a West End musical. I am really honoured to be appearing at the Adelphi, stepping into that famous coat, and really can’t wait to get stuck in!”

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.”

The source added: “Simon has his finger on the pulse and knows exactly how to keep the X Factor young, fresh and top of the ratings.

“It’s a genius idea to have a famous young bloke to join the panel next year. His only worry is that the judging panel would have three men and just one woman.

“If Dannii does end up staying, Louis could end up facing the chop a second time.”

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.

He said: “The wedding will be this year, hopefully, in July or August. Suzanne’s idea is a fairytale wedding with a big dress. I might sing at the church, but I’m not sure.

“We want to start a family straight away! A lot of my mates who are my age have babies and girlfriends or wives now – age isn’t an issue.”

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.

She might not warm peoples heart as Gareth does, but in my opinion, Zaraah really deserves her place in next weeks final show.

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.

“We should prepare for ‘Gareth mania’ to turn the contest on its head – and that could cost the bookies!” Gareth, Suzanne, Chris and ex-Coronation Street star Zaraah Abraham will battle it out in the semi-final tomorrow night.

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: “Poor Gareth had scares like this during Pop Idol. And five years on it seems that some fans will do all they can to get near him.”

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.”