MAD About The Musicals, produced and directed by Michael Courtney, heads for Middlesbrough Theatre with Gareth Gates featuring in a visit to the musicals of the West End and Broadway.

The 2002 Pop Idol runner-up has sold five million records worldwide, with his version of Unchained Melody selling over a million copies in the UK to become the third best-selling single of the Noughties. Gates own list of musicals includes Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Joseph, plus the current UK tour of Footloose, which heads to Newcastle in July.

Tell us about the first ever musical you appeared in – at school/drama club etc? What did you play and how did it go?

I played the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the age of eight, in my first school production, and it was here my love of theatre began. I then went on to play the role in the West End for Andrew Lloyd Webber some 17 years later.

What’s your favourite musical of all time?

Les Miserables! I had the privilege of playing Marius both on tour and in the West End of London. The music and dialogue is both moving and epic. It has a very special place in my heart.

Can you tell us how you got involved with Mad About The Musicals and what people can expect on the night?

It’s a show that will appeal to many people, as even if you don’t know the individual musicals, you will probably know the songs. There has been some amazing music to come out of theatre shows in the last few decades, so will will be paying homage to them. Some shows I have appeared in and some will be new songs for me to sign, which is what I’m looking forward to.

There’s a lot of Banter between you and your co-stars. Is comedy something you enjoy?

I love comedy – people think if you have a stutter you can’t be funny – when I am actually. I love playing jokes, the comedy role I have in Footloose – and yes I do love a bit of banter.

Tell us a funny backstage story...

I’ve had it all: from open zips on trousers, to forgetting lyrics. But the most mortifying experience was singing the Heart Full Of Love duet in Les Miserables and leading lady missed her entry. So, I sang the song to myself.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Getting to No 1 for the first time was a highlight for me. Theatre-wise, it would have to be playing Marius in Les Mis. Such an epic show and it was a honour to be a part of it.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I always wanted to be involved in music. As a child I was never able to speak, and so music became my only form of expression. From then I knew that music was all I wanted in life. I began to play the piano and guitar from a very young age and sang in many choirs and bands. Music was all I wanted to be surrounded by.

What was the first musical you ever saw and how old were you?

The first musical I ever saw was The King and I. It came to the Bradford Alhambra and I went to see it with my mum. A few months later I auditioned to play one of the Siamese children... I got the part and made my debut performance on the very same stage!

The X-Factor or The Voice? Which do you watch?

I hardly ever get the chance to watch them as I’m always on stage. But I try and watch the X Factor when I can – it’s the closest to Pop Idol so I’ll always have an interest in it – once you’ve been on the show, you just have to watch it.

You famously said you have Two Left Feet, will we ever see you on Strictly Come Dancing?

I would love to do Strictly. This year I’ve been in the musical Footloose and the scariest thing was doing a solo dance scene – but after a lot of work, I’m pretty good actually even I do say so. Maybe there is hope for me yet.

On tour, what are the must-pack items in your suitcase?

My iphone, ipad, MAC – all appled up. As well as my weights – I like to stay in shape, lots of healthy food. I eat a lot of protein. And of course my new coconut tea. And my girlfriend Faye if it’s the weekend and she’s not filming in Corrie – I miss her as we are both working a lot.

You have a new venture – Coconut Tea. Tell us a little about it?

I can’t drink caffeine – it gives me migraines. And I gave up drinking alcohol for quite a long time when I lost my voice a couple of years ago. I drink only occasionally now – so I basically invented the drink I wanted to drink. I love coconut water – but people always say ‘would you like a cup of tea’ and I don’t drink it.. And I’m not a hugelover of a lot of the herbal ones on the market. So I made my own. It’s fresh, all natural, no caffeine and tastes amazing.

What does your daughter Missy think of you being a performer and has she seen you in Mad About The Musicals?

Missy has to come and see everything I’m in. As many times as she can. She sees all my shows, so hopefully she will come to this leg of the tour as well.

n Mad About The Musicals, Middlesbrough Theatre, Saturday, June 4. Box Office: 01642-815181 or middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk

n Footloose tour date: Tuesday, July 12 to Saturday, July 16. Newcastle Opera House. Box Office: tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk or 0844-249-1000