Post by carol on Jun 5, 2017 8:06:34 GMT
This is a great interview with Gareth.
love Carol xx
60 Seconds with Gareth Gates
Photo of Andrew Williams by Andrew Williams
Published Jun 5, 2017
What are you up to in Footloose?
I play Willard, who can’t dance, which is perfect for me — life imitating art. I’m not a great dancer.
You’re no Kevin Bacon then?
No. I wish I had his dancing ability. I’m playing the comedy role, which I’ve never done before. It’s very rewarding to get laughs every night. I’ve never had to do that before. And there’s a part where I just wear gold hot pants, which usually gets a reaction.
Is that why you’re a gym convert?
Yes, I’ve been going every day for a year and it’s finally starting to pay off. It becomes addictive. The days I don’t go I tend to miss it. I’m living a good, clean, healthy lifestyle.
Rasher moves: Gareth is no Bacon
Has your diet changed, too?
It’s equally as important as the gym if not more. I’m on a high-protein, low-carb diet and I’m just generally healthier. I used to party quite a lot and go out after doing the show every night and now I don’t. I’m very strict about my training plan.
Are you missing any snack foods?
I used to like a mashed potato sandwich. But no more.
How did you start your Cuppanut coconut tea empire?
It’s desiccated coconut in a teabag basically. I’m surprised no one thought of it before me. It’s doing very well. I can’t drink caffeine because it gives me migraines so I’m a big fan of herbal teas. Coconuts are huge at the minute but there wasn’t coconut tea on the market. I started spooning coconut into tea bags and it developed from there.
How difficult was it to launch the business?
Very difficult. At the start I did it all. I’ve got people helping now but it was tricky. We got into Holland And Barrett, which has been great.
Are your coconuts picked by humans or monkeys? This is a controversial area…
The coconuts are all Fair Trade and all sourced from Sri Lanka so there’s no animal cruelty involved.
Your girlfriend, Faye Brookes from Coronation Street, did an interview recently where she said she wanted a baby — are you aware?
Broody: Girlfriend Faye wants a child
She’s new to being famous and being recognised and I’m busy on tour and with my businesses. She’s the one and I’m the one for her but there are no plans for marriage or babies any time soon.
Would you fancy a role in Corrie?
I don’t think she’d want me there. That’s her turf. I’m from Yorkshire so if I was to do a soap Emmerdale would be the one.
Do you still see Will Young?
We hook up every so often for a pint. We went through a lot together when we did Pop Idol. We’re friends for life
He was a bit temperamental on Strictly — is he always like that?
Will is a lovely, lovely man. He’s always been great with me. We all have our issues here and there but he’s a great guy — his voice is incredible.
What advice would you give to young people with a stammer?
Speech for me is a constant battle. I’m up and down with it. I sometimes have very bad times. If I’m not focused and don’t do my breathing exercises I can slip backwards. I’m part of the McGuire Programme, which teaches you a new way of speaking, a new way of breathing and a way to tackle a stammer. I’d recommend that. I’ve never let it hold me back but it’s difficult. People are shaped by their speech, which means people with a stammer can take jobs they don’t want but they do them if it means they don’t have to speak.
You must get contacted a lot by young people who have problems with their speech…
Yes, I’ve achieved a lot but one of the greatest achievements is raising the awareness of stammering. Childhood was a lonely time because I didn’t know anyone else who stammered — no one in the public eye, no one at school, no one. I wished there was a public figure with a stammer so I could say, ‘Hey, I’m like him.’ A lot of young people have told me that I’ve helped them that way. People seem a bit more educated about it now and there are more therapies being created and research being done into it, which is good.
Gates is in Footloose until September 30. footloose-musical.com
Faye is the one and I am the one for her but there are no plans for marriage or babies any time soon
love Carol xx
60 Seconds with Gareth Gates
Photo of Andrew Williams by Andrew Williams
Published Jun 5, 2017
What are you up to in Footloose?
I play Willard, who can’t dance, which is perfect for me — life imitating art. I’m not a great dancer.
You’re no Kevin Bacon then?
No. I wish I had his dancing ability. I’m playing the comedy role, which I’ve never done before. It’s very rewarding to get laughs every night. I’ve never had to do that before. And there’s a part where I just wear gold hot pants, which usually gets a reaction.
Is that why you’re a gym convert?
Yes, I’ve been going every day for a year and it’s finally starting to pay off. It becomes addictive. The days I don’t go I tend to miss it. I’m living a good, clean, healthy lifestyle.
Rasher moves: Gareth is no Bacon
Has your diet changed, too?
It’s equally as important as the gym if not more. I’m on a high-protein, low-carb diet and I’m just generally healthier. I used to party quite a lot and go out after doing the show every night and now I don’t. I’m very strict about my training plan.
Are you missing any snack foods?
I used to like a mashed potato sandwich. But no more.
How did you start your Cuppanut coconut tea empire?
It’s desiccated coconut in a teabag basically. I’m surprised no one thought of it before me. It’s doing very well. I can’t drink caffeine because it gives me migraines so I’m a big fan of herbal teas. Coconuts are huge at the minute but there wasn’t coconut tea on the market. I started spooning coconut into tea bags and it developed from there.
How difficult was it to launch the business?
Very difficult. At the start I did it all. I’ve got people helping now but it was tricky. We got into Holland And Barrett, which has been great.
Are your coconuts picked by humans or monkeys? This is a controversial area…
The coconuts are all Fair Trade and all sourced from Sri Lanka so there’s no animal cruelty involved.
Your girlfriend, Faye Brookes from Coronation Street, did an interview recently where she said she wanted a baby — are you aware?
Broody: Girlfriend Faye wants a child
She’s new to being famous and being recognised and I’m busy on tour and with my businesses. She’s the one and I’m the one for her but there are no plans for marriage or babies any time soon.
Would you fancy a role in Corrie?
I don’t think she’d want me there. That’s her turf. I’m from Yorkshire so if I was to do a soap Emmerdale would be the one.
Do you still see Will Young?
We hook up every so often for a pint. We went through a lot together when we did Pop Idol. We’re friends for life
He was a bit temperamental on Strictly — is he always like that?
Will is a lovely, lovely man. He’s always been great with me. We all have our issues here and there but he’s a great guy — his voice is incredible.
What advice would you give to young people with a stammer?
Speech for me is a constant battle. I’m up and down with it. I sometimes have very bad times. If I’m not focused and don’t do my breathing exercises I can slip backwards. I’m part of the McGuire Programme, which teaches you a new way of speaking, a new way of breathing and a way to tackle a stammer. I’d recommend that. I’ve never let it hold me back but it’s difficult. People are shaped by their speech, which means people with a stammer can take jobs they don’t want but they do them if it means they don’t have to speak.
You must get contacted a lot by young people who have problems with their speech…
Yes, I’ve achieved a lot but one of the greatest achievements is raising the awareness of stammering. Childhood was a lonely time because I didn’t know anyone else who stammered — no one in the public eye, no one at school, no one. I wished there was a public figure with a stammer so I could say, ‘Hey, I’m like him.’ A lot of young people have told me that I’ve helped them that way. People seem a bit more educated about it now and there are more therapies being created and research being done into it, which is good.
Gates is in Footloose until September 30. footloose-musical.com
Faye is the one and I am the one for her but there are no plans for marriage or babies any time soon
