Gareth Gates...

always knew he wanted to be a performer. As a boy he was head chorister for Bradford Cathedral Choir, and performed a solo for the Queen when she visited in 1997. In 2002, Gates made TV headlines after coming through an audition where he could not speak for stammering to become runner-up to Will Young in the UK’s first Pop Idol.

Instead of disappearing into Pop Oblivion he carved out a very successful career for himself, having hits and travelling worldwide.

In the UK alone Gates has sold 3.5m records, released three albums and had four UK No 1 singles.

He won record of the year in 2002 and with that has the second best-selling single of the ‘noughties’ with Unchained Melody. In 2008, Gates donned the sequins and Lycra every Sunday night to take part in the hit ITV1 TV show Dancing on Ice, in front of millions of TV viewers, coming fourth in the competition. Not bad for someone who couldn’t even stand up on the ice at the beginning. In 2009, he auditioned for Sir Cameron Mackintosh, which lead to the role of Marius, in the 25th anniversary tour of Les Miserables.

  • Sage Gateshead November 20 – Hall Two. Box Office: 0191-443-4661sagegateshead.com.

Kaiser Chiefs...

the Leeds rockers, will take their hit album, Education, Education, Education & War, on the road next year calling in at Newcastle’s MetroRadio Arena on February 5, having extended their UK tour to include a further nine dates across the country.

The album was released in April and charted at No 1 on the UK.

The band formed in 2003 and comprises Ricky Wilson (vocals), Andrew “Whitey” White (guitar), Simon Rix (bass), Nick “Peanut” Baines (keyboard) and Vijay Mistry (drums), who replaced the band’s original drummer Nick Hodgson.

Earlier this year, lead singer and super slimline Wilson (I predict a diet) starred as one of the judges during the last series of the BBC talent show, The Voice. He claims he only decided to take part in the series in order to ‘sell more records’.

It appears to have done the trick as the band, whose hits include I Predict A Riot, Oh My God, Ruby and Every Day I Love You Less and Less, are more popular than ever. Perhaps Wilson doesn’t need to return for The Voice’s fourth series.

  • February 5 at Newcastle’s MetroRadio Arena. Box Office: 0844-493-6666. metroradioarena.co.uk