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14 Phonebox Magazine | October 2024Singer Gareth Gates is hitting the stage with a new show celebrating one of his favourite vocal groups. Phonebox%u2019s FOUR Tom Johnston found out more.SEASONS IN ONE NIGHTHe was the boy with the stammer who became one of TV%u2019s favourite success stories. And now Gareth Gates is back on the road with a new show that pays homage to the legendary vocal quartet Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. %u201cThe show is essentially a tribute to them,%u201d says Gareth. %u201cI%u2019ve been a fan of their music since childhood, thanks to my parents. To perform hits like %u2018Can%u2019t Take My Eyes Off You%u2019 and %u2018Big Girls Don%u2019t Cry%u2019 is incredibly exciting for me.%u201dGareth has enjoyed over 20 years of success as a singer and entertainer following his rise to fame on TV%u2019s Pop Idol in 2002. And things have moved on in those two decades.%u201cIt%u2019s hard to believe it%u2019s been 22 years since Pop Idol,%u201d he says. %u201cTime fl ies, but my love for performing remains as strong as ever.%u201dFor this concert, Gareth will have a team of talented performers, including four West End singers, on stage with him. %u201cThe combination of these incredible voices, including my own, will deliver the high-pitched harmonies that defi ned the sound of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons,%u201d he explains.Now 40, Gareth continues to captivate audiences not only with his vocal talents but with his resilience and versatility. Fresh off his victory on SAS: Who Dares Wins Celebrity in November 2023, Gareth has shown a fresh toughness, endearing himself to a new generation of fans. During the series, he candidly discussed his experiences of bullying due to his stammer.%u201cI%u2019ve always been able to sing without stammering,%u201d Gareth explains. %u201cWhen I%u2019m on stage, whether in a concert or a West End production, I become a diff erent persona. It%u2019s never an issue.%u201d His career in musical theatre began with his role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a part he fi rst played as a child in school. %u201cAuditioning for Andrew Lloyd Webber and being off ered the lead role was a dream come true,%u201d he recalls.Gareth went on to perform in Les Mis%u00e9rables, Legally Blonde, Footloose, and SpongeBob, solidifying his reputation as a versatile stage actor.Now he%u2019s looking forward to coming to Northampton with this production: %u201cI%u2019m thrilled to bring this show to such a beautiful venue. Performing these iconic songs is a dream come true, and I can%u2019t wait to share this special evening with my fans.%u201dGareth Gates Sings Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton on Wednesday 9th October.