Lee Mead Forum

Thanks to Best Girl for this update on Lee's career

Following his triumph in ADWD, Lee embarked on a highly successful run as Joseph. His preparations for the role were documented in an hour-long TV special, The Winner’s Story, which was broadcast in December 2007. Advance ticket sales for Joseph were so strong that the first extension to his run was announced before the show had even opened, and several more extensions were to follow until he finally decided to bow out on 10th January 2009 after more than 600 performances.

Despite his hectic schedule, Lee has also found the time to appear at a wide range of one-off concerts. The first (and biggest) of these, the Concert for Diana at Wembley in July 2007, took place a few days before the show opened.

Subsequently, Lee took part in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Gala Concert, Covent Garden Kids’ Week, and Children in Need (a charity for which he became a patron) in 2007. He was the winner of the Variety Club Award for Outstanding Newcomer in 2007, as well as releasing two solo albums (‘Lee Mead’ in November 2007 and ‘Nothing Else Matters’ in March 2009), the first of which he launched at HMV in Oxford Street and which went on to sell enough copies to qualify for a gold disc. Lee was chosen to unveil the advent calendar for 20th December 2007 at St Pancras and was also the proud winner of the coveted ‘Rear of the Year’ Award in the same year. He rounded off the year in style by appearing alongside some of his former housemates at the 2007 Christmas special, When Joseph Met Maria, during which he performed a duet, All I Ask of You, with Connie Fisher.

During 2008, Lee was invited to perform at the Dutch Musical Awards as well as West End Live. He also recorded two tracks (‘Somebody Help Me’ and ‘You Got a Friend’) for the soundtrack of the British film, Three and Out. On 17th July, the Joseph run celebrated its first anniversary, and a month later, Lee appeared at the Don Black ‘Lyrics’ Concert, performing Some of us Belong to the Stars and Love Changes Everything. He went on to perform alongside some of the greats of musical theatre at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Birthday in the Park in September 2008, and was also chosen as an ambassador for the national Anti-Bullying Week. In this role, Lee appeared on GMTV to raise awareness of bullying in all walks of life.

Subsequent appearances in late 2008 included the Ian Fleming Tribute and the Future Dreams Concert, before Lee handed over his dreamcoat to Ricky Rojas and then to Gareth Gates and bowed out of the role of Joseph. On an emotional day at the Adelphi, Lee was given a send-off to remember before a packed audience of family, friends and fans who had traveled from far and wide to thank him for an unforgettable 18 months.

Since finishing his Joseph run, Lee married his fiancée Denise Van Outen at an intimate ceremony in the Seychelles in April 2009. He also found time to appear at the Australian Bushfire Benefit Concert in March 2009 and as a special guest at one of Rhydian’s concerts in early May. In addition, he was chosen to present one of the British Soap Awards in May 2009.

Lee studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute in New York during the summer of 2009 before returning to Britain and appearing at Longleat alongside Hayley Westenra and the TOGs in September, performing the Frog Chorus for Children in Need. In the same month, he also took part in recording the Beatles classic All You Need is Love at Abbey Road Studios for Children in Need.

On Saturday 3rd October 2009, Lee appeared at the inaugural White Sapphire Ball in Belfast, in aid of Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. He performed ‘Holding on to Letting Go’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters’, the title track of his second album. Lee also appeared at the Helping the Heart of Music Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 25th, alongside a host of stars including Rick Wakeman, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings.

On 24th November 2009, Lee appeared alongside Emma Munro-Wilson at the prestigious ‘Evening with Tim Rice’ event in Monaco. Lee and Emma performed duets of ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘A Whole New World’. Lee also sang ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Heaven on Their Minds’, ‘Anthem’ and ‘A Winter’s Tale.’

December saw Lee appearing once more in the UK, when he performed at Lincoln Cathedral in the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ Concert in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign on 10th December. Lee sang a variety of numbers from both of his solo albums, as well as ‘Anthem’, ‘A Winter’s Tale’, ‘When a Child is Born’ and ‘Love Changes Everything.’ Lee rounded off a very busy 2009 by teaming up once more with Hayley Westenra at her Christmas Concert at the Barbican on 21st December 2009.

On January 12th 2010, Lee embarked on a UK tour, playing the lead role (to very favourable reviews) in Oscar Wilde’s ‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime’, alongside established theatre performers such as Gary Wilmot, Derren Nesbitt, David Ross and Kate O’Mara.

On January 28th 2010 it was announced that Lee would be taking over the role of Fiyero in the smash hit West End production of ‘Wicked.’ Lee’s run is due to begin on May 10th 2010, and is scheduled to finish in February 2011.

Lee is due to perform two concerts of his own in the summer of 2010 at the Cliffs Pavilion in his hometown of Southend on 23rd May and the Basingstoke Anvil on 13th June.

Earlier Life

New West End star, Lee Mead, is originally from Southend-On-Sea. He trained in acting, singing and dancing at the Whitehall Performing Arts College but left this establishment before he graduated. Lee is an active and social guy who loves playing football, cooking and eating out with his family and friends.

Stage and Film Career

The nation's favourite Joseph is no stranger to the stage. Lee Mead has performed in a number of high profile shows including The Phantom of the Opera where he acted as the understudy for the part of Raoul. Lee has performed in a number of cabaret shows and on cruise ships and has starred in productions of Tommy and Miss Saigon.

His first professional job was in the Joseph touring production (Pharaoh and Brother Levi) where he was doing 12 shows a week. He did get the chance to perform in the West End version to fill in for the Pharoah twice out of 700 shows.



Lee's TV credits include a small role in BBC drama, Murder in Mind and appearing as a dancer in Geri Halliwell's 'It's Raining Men' music video!


Interesting Facts

Before winning 'Any Dream Will Do,' Lee's previous jobs included working at a KFC and working as a postman
Lee was a dancer in the Geri Halliwell video, 'It's Raining Men!'
His dream roles, other than Joseph, include the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and the lead role of Chris in Miss Saigon -Lee has already acted as an understudy in both of these productions.