Post by carol on Mar 22, 2014 13:27:29 GMT
This is a long and interesting interview. Enjoy! 
love Carol xxx
Mar 21, 2014 16:21 By Rick Fulton 1 Comments
Share
Share
Tweet
+1
Email
SINGER and dad-of-one, Gareth Gates has done a lot of growing up since appearing on the TV talent show at just 16-years-old.
Gareth Gates.
TWELVE years ago, Gareth Gates enthralled a nation. The then 16-year-old severe stammerer couldn’t even say his name as he auditioned for Pop Idol in front of the judges, including Simon Cowell.
While some may have felt sorry for him, Gareth had a steely grit, which showed first in the bravery of auditioning and then throughout the programme. He was runner-up to Will Young in 2002 but still became a pop star with four No1 singles.
However, after lying about a relationship with Katie Price, his career nose-dived and for the past five years, rather than fading into obscurity like so many ex-reality successes or teenage pop stars, he has carved a successful second career in musical theatre, appearing in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Misérables and Legally Blonde.
Gareth has continued to fight and now has an even bigger reason than his speech impediment to do so – his four-year-old daughter Missy.
He said: “I live for my daughter. Every decision I make is about her and for her. It’s great. She’s perfect. She’ll be five next month and is growing up fast and loving life.
“I haven’t been the best boyfriend or husband and that means I don’t get to spend every day with my daughter.”
He split from his wife and Missy’s mum Suzanne in 2012, amid rumours of an affair and is now dating West End star Faye Brookes.
It has to be said he hasn’t had much luck with women. At the height of his success, as a 17-year-old, Katie Price claimed she’d taken his virginity when she was pregnant with her first child.
He denied it initially, only to admit a year later, putting many of his young fans off him.
But he told me: “I live by no regrets. I was very young and I had a lot of fun and it made me who I am now.
“I saw her for four months and I wasn’t wanting a long-term relationship. I was only 17 and it started getting heavy. I didn’t want my family knowing what I was doing.”
He had a lot to lose. Gareth was like Susan Boyle before Britain’s Got Talent – a person with difficulties in their life who, when they sang, became a superstar. And he was Simon Cowell’s favourite on Pop Idol. The judge (he was just employed as that then before he did his own thing with The X Factor) wanted him to win and become a huge pop star. The pair still talk.
Gareth said: “I was Simon’s boy really. I owe a lot to him. He recognised my talent and stuck with me. We still see each other from time to time.”
As does Will Young, the posh uni boy who pipped him to the winner’s crown to the surprise of many who thought Gareth would win.
They toured the country and made the news on their battle buses, creating an election-style fever along the way.
MirrorpixA young looking Gareth Gates and Will Young.A young looking Gareth Gates and Will Young.
Gareth said: “We meet up every so often. We went through a lot together and have done a lot of similar things. He’s also gone into theatre, so it’s interesting to see the paths have kind of continued together.”
After Pop Idol, Gareth’s first three songs went to No1 – Unchained Melody, Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake) and The Long and Winding Road (a duet with Will)/Suspicious Minds in 2002.
The next year, he was chosen to front the Comic Relief single and had his fourth No1 with Spirit in the Sky.
But while he still had two top five tracks in 2003, his second album only got to No11 and his pop career, despite five million record sales and like so many of Simon Cowell’s protégés, was over.
Gareth said: “No one knew how big Pop Idol was going to be.
“It was a whirlwind. In the final week of Pop Idol, we both were told we had a record contract, so the actual final was the cherry on top.
“I was gutted I didn’t win at the time but it hasn’t held me back and Will was a worthy winner.”
He’s also circumspect about his fall from the pop firmament. He released – and also co-wrote – a third album in 2007 but it only went to No23.
He said: “Having a stammer, writing has been a release for me. But back in the day, I was told what to do and I was happy with that. We had great success and who knows if I’d tried to write more whether I’d have had the same success.
“Having four No1 hits and great sell-out tours is a hard level of success to sustain.
“I didn’t think about it at the time and just enjoyed the experience.
“But I’m here still and working as hard as ever.”
He is and you can tell because his stammer is back. Not that it ever went away but, as a practitioner of the McGuire Programme (he is himself a trained instructor), he has been able to manage it.
But he admitted that stress makes it worse and throughout our interview the stammer is acute, with pauses and stumbles. But it’s better than it was in 2002. Then I was told it was so bad he couldn’t even do an interview.
He said: “It’s never been cured, it’s always ongoing. When I’m stressed out it’s a lot more. I continue to struggle.
“But I’ve been on the West End and managed it and it seems to be fine.”
ITVGareth Gates with pro skater partner Brianne DelcourtGareth Gates with pro skater partner Brianne Delcourt
Gareth will be 30 in July (we both wonder where the time has gone and how he’s managed to keep his looks) and he’s making a singing comeback.
Suddenly, the former spiky-haired young boy from Pop Idol is a grown man and seems to be everywhere.
He’s teamed up with other former pin-ups – Dane Bowers, Kenzie from Blazin’ Squad, Adam Rickitt and Kavana – to form 5th Story for The Big Reunion on ITV2.
Also this year, he appeared on the last ever Dancing on Ice and goes on tour around the UK from Friday with other former music reality programme stars Ray Quinn and Suzanne Shaw.
He said: “Musical theatre has been great but I really want to get back into singing again.”
He has now written his fourth album and it’s ready to go.
He is waiting to see if the public take to 5th Story. There is a Big Reunion album with each of the five singing one of their big hits, along with other stars from this year’s show, including Damage.
But they are all hoping they could make a full album and maybe even tour.
Gareth said: “We don’t know what’s happening yet but The Big Reunion and Dancing on Ice has raised my profile and allowed me to do what I want to do, like release The Very Best of Gareth Gates album.”
While he wants to get his music career back on track, he’s looking forward to the Dancing on Ice tour, which will skate into Scotland in April.
Gareth came seventh in the final ever Dancing on Ice show, which saw Ray Quinn crowned champ of champs.
He said: “I was shocked they asked, given I was only fourth the first time (in 2008) I did it. So to be asked to be up against former champions was a real honour.
“I was the last person left in the series who wasn’t a champion – I feel the champion of the non-champions.
“I was terrible when I first started skating and was clinging onto the side for dear life but it’s something I’ll always have now and the tour is always so much fun.”
Gareth began singing aged eight when he auditioned (“with a terrible stammer and very shy”) for a school version of Joseph.
His singing voice has brought him a long way since then.
Four years ago, in 2011, he opened the first Gareth Gates Academy of Performing Arts in his native Bradford, teaching children aged from five to 16 singing, dancing and acting.
It’s no surprise. He said: “I’m very driven and I always have been. So I’d like to release a successful album, continue in musical theatre and be more involved in business.” Whatever life throws at him Gareth will never give up on his dreams.
*The Big Reunion finishes on Thursday, on ITV2 at 9pm.
*The Dancing on Ice – Live Tour arrives at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow from April 11-13. For tickets, call 0141 248 3000.
*Gareth is also going on a solo acoustic tour and will play the Glasgow O2 ABC2 on June 22.
love Carol xxx
Mar 21, 2014 16:21 By Rick Fulton 1 Comments
Share
Share
Tweet
+1
SINGER and dad-of-one, Gareth Gates has done a lot of growing up since appearing on the TV talent show at just 16-years-old.
Gareth Gates.
TWELVE years ago, Gareth Gates enthralled a nation. The then 16-year-old severe stammerer couldn’t even say his name as he auditioned for Pop Idol in front of the judges, including Simon Cowell.
While some may have felt sorry for him, Gareth had a steely grit, which showed first in the bravery of auditioning and then throughout the programme. He was runner-up to Will Young in 2002 but still became a pop star with four No1 singles.
However, after lying about a relationship with Katie Price, his career nose-dived and for the past five years, rather than fading into obscurity like so many ex-reality successes or teenage pop stars, he has carved a successful second career in musical theatre, appearing in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Misérables and Legally Blonde.
Gareth has continued to fight and now has an even bigger reason than his speech impediment to do so – his four-year-old daughter Missy.
He said: “I live for my daughter. Every decision I make is about her and for her. It’s great. She’s perfect. She’ll be five next month and is growing up fast and loving life.
“I haven’t been the best boyfriend or husband and that means I don’t get to spend every day with my daughter.”
He split from his wife and Missy’s mum Suzanne in 2012, amid rumours of an affair and is now dating West End star Faye Brookes.
It has to be said he hasn’t had much luck with women. At the height of his success, as a 17-year-old, Katie Price claimed she’d taken his virginity when she was pregnant with her first child.
He denied it initially, only to admit a year later, putting many of his young fans off him.
But he told me: “I live by no regrets. I was very young and I had a lot of fun and it made me who I am now.
“I saw her for four months and I wasn’t wanting a long-term relationship. I was only 17 and it started getting heavy. I didn’t want my family knowing what I was doing.”
He had a lot to lose. Gareth was like Susan Boyle before Britain’s Got Talent – a person with difficulties in their life who, when they sang, became a superstar. And he was Simon Cowell’s favourite on Pop Idol. The judge (he was just employed as that then before he did his own thing with The X Factor) wanted him to win and become a huge pop star. The pair still talk.
Gareth said: “I was Simon’s boy really. I owe a lot to him. He recognised my talent and stuck with me. We still see each other from time to time.”
As does Will Young, the posh uni boy who pipped him to the winner’s crown to the surprise of many who thought Gareth would win.
They toured the country and made the news on their battle buses, creating an election-style fever along the way.
MirrorpixA young looking Gareth Gates and Will Young.A young looking Gareth Gates and Will Young.
Gareth said: “We meet up every so often. We went through a lot together and have done a lot of similar things. He’s also gone into theatre, so it’s interesting to see the paths have kind of continued together.”
After Pop Idol, Gareth’s first three songs went to No1 – Unchained Melody, Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake) and The Long and Winding Road (a duet with Will)/Suspicious Minds in 2002.
The next year, he was chosen to front the Comic Relief single and had his fourth No1 with Spirit in the Sky.
But while he still had two top five tracks in 2003, his second album only got to No11 and his pop career, despite five million record sales and like so many of Simon Cowell’s protégés, was over.
Gareth said: “No one knew how big Pop Idol was going to be.
“It was a whirlwind. In the final week of Pop Idol, we both were told we had a record contract, so the actual final was the cherry on top.
“I was gutted I didn’t win at the time but it hasn’t held me back and Will was a worthy winner.”
He’s also circumspect about his fall from the pop firmament. He released – and also co-wrote – a third album in 2007 but it only went to No23.
He said: “Having a stammer, writing has been a release for me. But back in the day, I was told what to do and I was happy with that. We had great success and who knows if I’d tried to write more whether I’d have had the same success.
“Having four No1 hits and great sell-out tours is a hard level of success to sustain.
“I didn’t think about it at the time and just enjoyed the experience.
“But I’m here still and working as hard as ever.”
He is and you can tell because his stammer is back. Not that it ever went away but, as a practitioner of the McGuire Programme (he is himself a trained instructor), he has been able to manage it.
But he admitted that stress makes it worse and throughout our interview the stammer is acute, with pauses and stumbles. But it’s better than it was in 2002. Then I was told it was so bad he couldn’t even do an interview.
He said: “It’s never been cured, it’s always ongoing. When I’m stressed out it’s a lot more. I continue to struggle.
“But I’ve been on the West End and managed it and it seems to be fine.”
ITVGareth Gates with pro skater partner Brianne DelcourtGareth Gates with pro skater partner Brianne Delcourt
Gareth will be 30 in July (we both wonder where the time has gone and how he’s managed to keep his looks) and he’s making a singing comeback.
Suddenly, the former spiky-haired young boy from Pop Idol is a grown man and seems to be everywhere.
He’s teamed up with other former pin-ups – Dane Bowers, Kenzie from Blazin’ Squad, Adam Rickitt and Kavana – to form 5th Story for The Big Reunion on ITV2.
Also this year, he appeared on the last ever Dancing on Ice and goes on tour around the UK from Friday with other former music reality programme stars Ray Quinn and Suzanne Shaw.
He said: “Musical theatre has been great but I really want to get back into singing again.”
He has now written his fourth album and it’s ready to go.
He is waiting to see if the public take to 5th Story. There is a Big Reunion album with each of the five singing one of their big hits, along with other stars from this year’s show, including Damage.
But they are all hoping they could make a full album and maybe even tour.
Gareth said: “We don’t know what’s happening yet but The Big Reunion and Dancing on Ice has raised my profile and allowed me to do what I want to do, like release The Very Best of Gareth Gates album.”
While he wants to get his music career back on track, he’s looking forward to the Dancing on Ice tour, which will skate into Scotland in April.
Gareth came seventh in the final ever Dancing on Ice show, which saw Ray Quinn crowned champ of champs.
He said: “I was shocked they asked, given I was only fourth the first time (in 2008) I did it. So to be asked to be up against former champions was a real honour.
“I was the last person left in the series who wasn’t a champion – I feel the champion of the non-champions.
“I was terrible when I first started skating and was clinging onto the side for dear life but it’s something I’ll always have now and the tour is always so much fun.”
Gareth began singing aged eight when he auditioned (“with a terrible stammer and very shy”) for a school version of Joseph.
His singing voice has brought him a long way since then.
Four years ago, in 2011, he opened the first Gareth Gates Academy of Performing Arts in his native Bradford, teaching children aged from five to 16 singing, dancing and acting.
It’s no surprise. He said: “I’m very driven and I always have been. So I’d like to release a successful album, continue in musical theatre and be more involved in business.” Whatever life throws at him Gareth will never give up on his dreams.
*The Big Reunion finishes on Thursday, on ITV2 at 9pm.
*The Dancing on Ice – Live Tour arrives at The SSE Hydro, Glasgow from April 11-13. For tickets, call 0141 248 3000.
*Gareth is also going on a solo acoustic tour and will play the Glasgow O2 ABC2 on June 22.
Attachments:
