Lee Mead’s My Story tour set for dates in the Midlands

Lee Mead has to be one of the hardest working people in show business.

He stars in one of the country’s top TV shows – Holby City, he’s released five albums and is continuing his UK tour with a gig in Staffordshire later this month

Dad of one, Lee, first came popped into the public eye back in 2007 when he won the BBC One show Any Dream Will Do.

This saw him take on the coveted leading West End role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The 38-year-old is now set to appear at Lichfield Garrick on Saturday, September 21, with his show, Lee Mead – My Story which will combine conversation and music and see Lee reflect on his life and career.

Audiences will have the chance to listen to Lee chat about the magical moments, the highs the lows, the memories of his life and of course performances of the songs that mean so much to him.

Born and bred in Southend-on-Sea, Lee returned to the town he grew up in three years ago, saying: “It’s close to London for work and my daughter only lives half an hour away.”

Lee left sixth form college and while he was deciding whether to join the acting profession he worked at the Royal Mail and also in pubs and restaurants.

“My first real job in the business was on a car ferry the Pride of Bilbao for P&O,” he said.

“I had a six month contract and did five or six cabaret shows a day. I lived in a tiny cabin but I loved it.

“When I was younger I was really frustrated because I wanted to go to RADA but it was too expensive so I knew I had to make it by starting at the bottom.

“I first saw Joseph when I was nine years old. It was my dream role.

“I got my first big break in the chorus in a touring production of Joseph when I was 20.

“I ended up playing the Pharaoh and from that point I never looked back.”

Lee then went to appear in the chorus in Phantom of the Opera and while he was in his dressing room one day he picked up the remote and Graham Norton popped up on the TV.

“He asked if you could be the next Joseph and I thought ‘yes I could’.

“The audition process took around six months and I was up against 10,000 other people.

“When you really want something, there’s no easy way around it.”

Lee went on to win the coveted role of Joseph on the West End and has since appeared as Lofty Chiltern in Casualty, Holby City – a part written especially for him, numerous pantomimes, in the West End in classic musicals such as Wicked! And Legally Blonde, and the touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and has released five albums.

He said: “ I left Casualty after two years, did Chitty and released an album.

“I’ve been in Holby for the past three years and have also toured for the last three years.

“I try to keep the tour dates to weekends and have 25 tour gigs this year. I film from Monday to Friday and then the weekends are mine.

“I juggle being a dad and the tour then.

“I work 15 hours a day, do a bit of panto at Christmas, along with corporate gigs on cruise ship entertainment.

Lee believes his work ethic stems back to his dad who has worked for the Royal Mail for 40 years.

“Dad works really hard.

“He started at the ‘post office’ when he was 19 and had me at 21. Mum and dad have just celebrated 40 years of marriage and they are still so sweet together.

“We went out for a bite to eat recently and when I dropped them off they were holding hands.”

Lee also believes that family is his priority.

“I always make sure my daughter comes first and there are sufficient breaks between jobs.

“I have turned down gigs to keep this balance.

“You don’t get that time back when your children are young.

“I do believe that we make choices and it’s up to us to apply ourselves and make it work.

“But I do believe that more things come to you if you go for them and put yourself out there.

“Never expect too much and you’re never disappointed.

Lee will perform at Lichfield Garrick on Saturday, September 21. Tickets are available by calling the box office on 01543 412121 or online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com

He will also call at Loughborough Town Hall on Saturday, November 9. Tickets are available by calling 01509 231914 or by logging on to www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

For more information visit www.leemead.co.uk

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