We sit down for a Chat with pop idol: gareth gates

This week, I caught up with pop idol sensation Gareth Gates, who gave Me a fantastic insight into his world that included overcoming adversity to turn his passion into his profession.

He's visiting Wales as part of a select venue tour that includes the new theatre in Cardiff on Sunday, the 9th of March, and you can find all the information at the New Theatre Website.

You can hear and Watch the Full Podcast on All Popular Podcast Platforms, plus there’s a Link to our Spotify Service Here too.

Here’s a Transcript of that Interview:

 It's lovely to meet you. And you, and you. We got there eventually. That's right. I'm going to jump straight in because I know you're pressed for time. It's all good. Yeah. Okay, so I just want to really start with your sort of journey since Pop Idol. Yes. What have you been up to? Where have you gone? Well, it's, it was 23 years ago now.

I did watch. I'm getting old. Ha ha ha. Yeah, I've, I've been very far. to continue to work and work and work. Um, you know, it started out as kind of pop star and had lots of success in that and big arena tours. Uh, I then ended up in kind of musical theatre. which is great. Did big shows like Joseph on the West End and Les Miserables.

Um, I actually came to Cardiff, um, with Les Mis. We did the, did it at the Millennium Centre, which was great. I think it was there for about eight weeks or something silly. Um, Yeah, and it was great to get to know Cardiff then and, you know, to be here for that amount of time. Um, you know, and I always enjoy coming back to Cardiff because it's, you know, kind of lots of lovely memories.

I've, I've also got quite a few friends who live here too, so. Um, yeah, and then I'm, I'm producing shows now. So I'm producing a brand new show called, uh, Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies, which comes, uh, here to the New Theatre, uh, in Cardiff on the 9th of March. So, um, Yeah, it's all exciting.

That's brilliant. I mean, that's why we're here for you today anyway, to speak about Gareth Sings Love Songs from the movies. Yes. I personally think it's amazing because lots of people actually relate songs to movies, or you remember a certain scene and then suddenly you're in love with that song. That's right.

So what inspired you to do this show and this tour? What inspired you? Sure, it was, well, my first ever number one, My biggest selling record to date was a song called Unchained Melody, which was made famous by the movie Ghost. And this got me thinking, some of the world's greatest love songs are from movies.

And, um, so I put together an evening with all these big songs in. Songs from films like Titanic, Armageddon, A Star is Born, My Girl, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing, to name a few. Um, and yeah, I think it's going to be a really, you know, great evening of entertainment. That, that synergy between music and film is, you know, is really powerful.

How did you pick your songs? Were those movies you listed? Are they your personal favourites? Are they like your guilty pleasures? Yeah, yeah, it's a mixture really. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, obviously I remember, for instance, Titanic, you know, remember going to the cinema, I'd see that. And once you hear that song, it brings back all those, you know, kind of lovely memories and, and then stuff.

And yeah. And then I just did a lot of research of, you know, all those big, um, songs, you know, and it's actually been so hard to, um, You know, to sort of make this massive list, you know, into a two hour show because there's so many, uh, big, big hits. But, um, yeah, I've chose the best ones, you know, my favourites.

And, uh, yeah, I can't wait for people to see it and, and hear it. Do you have a favourite, can I ask? Is there one that you love performing? Yeah, I mean, I love singing Shallow from A Star is Born. It's a duet and I sing that with a girl in the show, um, called Maggie Lynn. I'll say that again. Maggie Lynn. Um, and she's done big shows on the West End.

She's got an incredible voice. Um, you know, so to be singing with her is a real I love that. And Joe, I really love how passionate you are when you're mentioning these. Yes. I speak to some people and they're just repeating things they know, but I can really see it in your face that you're really excited.

Sure thing. Have you specifically chose this for like Valentine's Day? Because it's really close and we've got like that Valentine's special sort of vibe. Yeah, well we're doing 33. Venues, you know, so it's a big tour. Uh, and we kick off on Valentine's Week, actually. Um, yeah, we do all of that week, and then we tour the rest of February into March, uh, and, and April.

So it's, it's perfect for Valentine's. Um, obviously we're not. A hue of a Valentine's, but it'd make a perfect Valentine's gift, I guess. Definitely. I wish I had a boyfriend now, to be honest, that would take me. Well, or you can do it as Galentines, you know, bring your girlfriends. Bring my cats. That's right.

You're not just here at Cardiff. You're going to do multiple places. I've listed them somewhere. We've got Caernarfon Galeri. Yes. And the Carmarthen Theatre or Sir Gaird Theatre. Wow, okay. Yeah, I got that. I won't attempt to say that because we'll be here all day. Have you learnt any Welsh since you've like coming back from Portugal?

The, uh, yeah, the only Every Welsh I know is yakida, which is cheers, right? It's good health, yes good health. Wherever you go isn't it, you can go on holiday or you can go to England and if someone knows your Welsh it's yakida! And you're like hey! Well I actually learnt recently that I'm an eighth Welsh!

My great grandfather was, was, was Welsh. Um, so yeah, so maybe that's where I get my voice from. Oh, that's fantastic. I like that. Gotta have a bit of Welsh in you. Yeah, that's fine. Land of song, after all. Yeah, that's fine. Exactly. I will promote it. I love being Welsh. I'm terrible. Sorry. So how do you feel about performing in venues like Cernarfon Galeri and the Carmarthen Theatre?

Yeah, well, I was actually in Carmarthen last Um, Autumn actually, so only a few months ago. It's a great theatre and it went so well there that we decided, uh, to bring this brand new show there. You know, I, on this, on this tour, there's big, big theatres, you know, like the New Theatre, um, and we also like to take shows like this, you know, to kind of smaller, intimate venues as well, because it works, and, you know, and it's, and it's also good for people that live in these, uh, towns and villages, because big shows like this don't always come, and so, um, you know, we found it sort of, you know, Extremely successful.

And the people that come to see the show in these smaller places, you know, they really respect, you know, and they get excited. Yes. They get excited about us being there, I guess. Do you have a special way of connecting with the audience? Because you're on about smaller places and like this place here at the New Theatre.

Yes. Do you have a way that you feel like you could connect with the audience? Yeah, it's the exact same show, but we put the show together knowing, you know, that we're going to be performing in bigger venues and also smaller venues too. So, you know, there are sort of moments that we bring it down to more of a acoustic set.

The, the, the song Shallow, for instance, I play, um, guitar on that and we sing and it's just a purely acoustic number, you know, and that works in a very intimate venue, but we've also You know, in a big venue too. So yeah, I've put together the, the set list, you know, knowing that and with that in mind, I guess, I think that's lovely though.

I love acoustic. And I think that is something slightly different to this show. You see a lot of people come in and they're singing, but nobody actually just. sits down and does that acoustic one on one sort of moment. So I think for me, it's nice, that would be something that would stand out for me. Yeah, that'd be something like, yeah, sure thing.

You know, we've, we have a live band behind us as well. So, you know, there are moments where it's kind of full, you know, and there's big anthemic songs in there, which, which need a big band behind you. Um, But you are right, it's, it's really nice when we go down to that, the, the intimacy of just an acoustic number, which is nice.

Fab. Thank you. Um, I've got a couple more. I've got, so looking back at your career, what do you consider your most significant artistic achievement? Oh, lots. Um, Yeah, you know, I've done lots of Western theatre. I've done lots of tours. Um, you know, I've had quite a few number ones, and, you know, sold millions of records.

Uh, but the one thing I am really proud of, actually, is that I heightened the awareness of stammering and speech impediments. You know, when I was a child, Child, I didn't know anybody else who had a stammer. And so it was a very lonely place. And if there was somebody in the public eye that I could have said, look, I'm like them, it would have just made things much easier.

Um, you know, and so the moment I could, uh, talk about my, my speech, you know, to try and inspire people who were going through the same or even have any form of affliction, it You know, so not let it dictate who you are or control your life, you know, then I do, you know, and I think that's the thing that I'm kind of most proud of, I guess.

I remember, I think that's brilliant, and I remember seeing a lady on telly, she was having an interview and she was on about how she adored and admired you because you encouraged her to step up and she had a stammer and I think you came out after and she was really surprised and gobsmacked and wanted to give you a big hug and you could just see how much you influenced her and how happy she was.

Yeah, in, in, in, in fact that girl's actually from Wales and she's um, yeah, she's a great girl. You know, and she's actually doing lots for the stammering community as well, you know, to show that, you know, even though she does struggle, even though I struggle with my speech, you know, we don't let it stop us from doing anything, you know, and I think that's important to try and instill that message in people.

No, I completely agree. My son has a lisp. Um, and obviously I'm Welsh educated, so we all speak Welsh in my family, so I sent him to a Welsh school, but he he was just being terribly bullied for having a lisp and people not understanding him. Yes. So we took a different approach. So we go to an English school now, but we do side Welsh lessons on the side.

He's come on so much that he was frightened to read originally, but with sort of the right push. And then I've told him about people out there and I've shown videos of other, he's just come along. He's just, and I think people like you are just so inspirational because it really helps others that might be too shy to push themselves.

And it's nice to see someone succeed. Yeah, absolutely. I found it. Hard at school, you know much like your son, and I didn't want to read in class Well, I couldn't read in class, you know what it's like when you're in class and you have that Yeah, like the creeping death, you know, you know, you know that person's reading that it's gonna be someone else and then it's you And the fear builds and then you have to stand up and you can't get the words out That was hell, you know, and I was badly badly bullied, but you know things like this my Make us stronger and make us a people that we are now.

And I think I'm a lot more resilient as a result of that. I think we need a lot more people like you out there because everyone needs that little bit of hope and somebody to hold on to and I really do appreciate that and appreciate you for that. No worries. And my Nana absolutely adores you. Oh really?

We rang up every Saturday on Pop Idol. My Nana thinks you were gorgeous. Bless you. So when I told her about it today she was thrilled. Please. Thank you Nana for me. She had to tell me, I had to tell you that she liked you. She needed to pass that message on. I just got one more for you. Oh, good. What future projects are on the way?

What have you got lined up after this? Lots, lots, actually. Seranto for three months. with this tour of 33 venues all around the UK. And then after that, um, I've been writing a brand new musical. It's called Speechless. It's about a guy who can't speak. Uh, obviously a topic very close to my heart. Um, and I had this idea seven or eight years ago, but it took for us to go, go into lockdown to, You know, to have the time just on a piano, for instance, you know, in a room on my own, um, to actually write some songs.

And I wrote eight songs. Took it to a big West End producer who's a good friend of mine. He said, don't speak to anybody else about this. He commissioned the, um, show on the spot. We found an incredible script writer. Um, and so we're doing a workshop of that, um, after this tour. Um, and then hopefully we'll be Um, we'll have a show on the West End into 2026.

So that's very, very exciting. It's a lot of work. Um, yeah, and then I'm just, you know, as I'm producing this show, I'm now working on producing other big shows. There's a few shows from Broadway that we're thinking about bringing over, um, onto the West End. So I'm in that. kind of space now, which is exciting.

And then, you know, I just constantly tour anyway. I'm doing lots of gigs, um, over the summer, big festivals and things. Um, yeah, so it's, you know, it's kind of constant work for me. It's a lot of times, you know, and I'm away quite a bit, but, um, yeah, I still love it and I'm very fortunate to, to be as busy as I am.

Do you like performing more or producing? Well, producing is brand new to me, so um, you know, and it is a lot of work. It's a beast, um, you know, I'm just used to, um, showing up to a gig, singing, going home. But, um, yeah. You know, now I'm having to do everything because, you know, I'm in charge of everything, of, of everyone, you know, so putting together like the tour schedule, working out where we're going, which venues, booking the venues, marketing the show, uh, casting the show, putting together the set list, the band, uh, everyone's hotels, travel.

It's a hell of a lot. But, um, yeah, I'll, I'll answer that question, whether I prefer performing or producing after this tour. So I'll be in touch. Exactly. I was just so really, really busy, so I'm not going to keep you any much longer. It's great. Lovely to meet you. I appreciate you coming down. I can't wait to be back in Cardiff at the new theatre on Sunday the 9th.

March, and it's going to be a great show. I've put together a great cast of singers as well. Um, who, who will be on stage with me all backed by a live band. And if you're a fan. If you're a fan of love songs, if you're a fan of the movies, if you want a romantic evening out with, with the girls or with your partner.

Or your cat. Whoever. Or your cat. Cats are welcome, you know. Um, yeah, yeah, it's, it's a great evening of entertainment. It's going to be good. Oh, thank you so much.