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It’s been three years since Lee Mead won BBC talent show ‘Any Dream Will Do’, and he hasn’t looked back since. With over 600 shows under his belt as Joseph, Lee hung up his loincloth last year to marry his showbiz sweetheart Denise Van Outen, and they are expecting their first child in May.
To top it all, Lee has landed the lead in Oscar Wilde’s ‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime’. The play comes to Manchester’s Palace Theatre this month and I caught up with Lee to see how he was preparing for his first play and fatherhood.
So Lee, what’s the play all about and how do you fit into it?
It’s set in the 19th century and based on fate. My character has his palm read by clairvoyant Mr Podgers, played by Gary Wilmot, and is told he is to commit a murder. Then it’s all about me finding someone to ‘knock off’ before I marry my fiancée. It’s a comedy though, so it’s not too dark.
Obviously, we know you more for musicals, but in this we don’t hear you sing. Was that a conscious move?
I’ve always wanted to do a play or an acting-based job. When the right show didn’t come up after Joseph I went to the Lee Strasberg School of Acting in New York and was there just under three months, studying and working on scripts.
The play runs for a week in Manchester. Any plans while you’re here?
I love Manchester. In my younger years I was in Miss Saigon at the Palace Theatre, so to go back there with my first play and be in the lead role is wonderful.
I also have lots of friends I will be catching up with – you might find me at the Press Club after the show!
When the tour ends you have a bigger role to embark on as ‘Daddy’. How excited are you and Denise?
We’re really excited and are getting everything ready now. I bought this tiny dress the other day; it’s just a fun time and I can’t wait for that.
Finally, I can’t leave without asking if you miss not wearing the loincloth.
Not at all! It’s funny because you go out to about two and a half thousand people dressed in just a loincloth, but you have to think ‘it’s for the character not me’.
I did get to keep the Joseph coat though, which was nice after playing such an iconic role and going through the whole TV process. It’s a lovely thing to keep and show my children one day.
‘Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime’
Palace Theatre, 8–13 March
Ticketmaster: 0844 847 2275
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