Lee Mead Press

[Tanith Messenger]

www.josephthemusical.com/index.html - a small photo of Lee in THE coat!!!

www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2007260619,00.html

www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a60462/lee-mead-wins-any-dream-will-do.html

[Helen]

Lee is in all the sunday papers today with photos from last night

i had a quick look while i was in Asda just now

[Tanith Messenger]

ooooo have to look here in the shops tmrw cos they always a day late here ;D have friends collecting stuff for me in uk - but wanna see NOW

[Christine]

They aren't in all the Sunday papers as i work for a newspaper wholesale & looked today & couldn't find them in the Sunday Express, Star or the Mail on Sunday - but have got them in others and also in today's Sun and Mirror

[Lynda]

Mead Wins Dream to Play Lloyd Webber’s Joseph
Date: 11th June 2007

After two months of the BBC One reality TV casting programme Any Dream Will Do, a successor to last year’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, 25-year-old Lee Mead (pictured) won the title role in the upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which opens on 17 July 2007 (previews from 6 July) at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre (See News, 5 Apr 2007).

On Saturday night’s broadcast, Mead, a professional actor, was up against 19-year-old supermarket customer service assistant and student Keith Jack, and student and former boyband member Lewis Bradley, who celebrated his 18th birthday on the programme. The three men – from the original shortlist of 12, which had been whittled down from thousands who auditioned - each had to perform two solos as well as a group rendition of “Maria” from West Side Story.


Bradley was knocked out after the first round in the live final. In the ultimate contest, Mead and Jack reprised numbers from earlier rounds – “Always on My Mind” for Jack, “Paint It Black” for Mead – and then performed a duet of the title song from Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. More than three million votes were logged during the two-part broadcast.

Mead was one of two professionals with West End experience in amongst the final 12 Joseph competitors. He joined the company of Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre last year, understudying the principal role of Raoul. He has also previously covered Pharaoh in the tour of Joseph, produced by Any Dream Will Do judge and show co-producer Bill Kenwright.

On Saturday’s programme, Kenwright told Mead: “I should have seen back then what everyone else has seen for the past eight weeks. You are not an understudy, you are a West End star.” On winning what Lloyd Webber deemed an “amazing achievement”, Mead promised viewers he would give them “a helluva show” at the Adelphi.

Last year, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? marked the first time that reality TV format was used specifically to cast by audience vote a contracted lead role in the West End. Its winner Connie Fisher, who won this year’s Whatsonstage.com and Critics’ Circle newcomer awards, paid a special visit to Any Dream Will Do to offer last-minute advice to the Joseph finalists and to sing the title number from The Sound of Music.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - a new staging of the record-breaking 1990s production at the London Palladium, which was directed by the late Steven Pimlott - will once again be designed by Mark Thompson and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The musical, based on the Biblical tale of Joseph and his 11 jealous brothers, started life in 1968 as a 20-minute entertainment for an end-of-term school concert. By the time it received its Broadway premiere in 1982, it had been expanded into a full two-hour show. With music by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph’s popular score includes the songs "Any Dream Will Do", "Close Every Door to Me", “Go, Go, Go Joseph”, “Those Canaan Days”, “Benjamin Calypso” and "One More Angel in Heaven".

c. whatsonstage.com

[Tanith Messenger]

www.inthenews.co.uk

Lee "slightly nervous" at Joseph role
Monday, 11 Jun 2007 13:21
Lee will now be busy rehearsing for the production Printer friendly version
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Lee lands West End Joseph job
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Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead has admitted he is "slightly nervous" ahead of his biggest West End role to date.

Lee was crowned the winner of the hit BBC show and will now star as Joseph in the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

He beat fellow finalists Lewis Bradley and Keith Jack in the final of the casting show after singing the Rolling Stones' Paint it Black as his trademark tune.

The new Joseph has now finished shooting the video for Any Dream Will Do, which will be the Children in Need single this year, and after meeting the cast will head straight into rehearsals for the West End premiere of the new Joseph.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Lee said: "I'm so looking forward to playing the role. I'd be lying if I said I'm not slightly nervous. The enormity of the role and the show itself; it's huge."

When asked about his fellow finalists Lee said "they were really gracious" after he had won.

"We lived together for son long and had the same dream of winning the role. We embraced the whole experience. They were lovely when I won."

The new Joseph star has worked as an understudy on previous plays, including Phantom of the Opera and had been rejecting for larger roles.

"It does make you stronger," Lee said. "You have to accept that going into this industry there's going to be a lot of rejection."

[Deleted]

BBC Essex (Scroll down for audio)

Lee Mead talks about his dream for Joseph
Lee is crowned Joseph

[Deleted]

Lee at BBC's Steve Wright Show

www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wright/

Click the "Tuesday" Link at the right
You can fast forward, Any Dream Will Do by Jason Donovan is at about 1.30, Lee's version at about 3.27 followed by an interview

[Deleted]

Another interview in The Sun

[Tanith Messenger]

www.hertsessexnews.co.uk

Dream come true

TALENTED Lauren Woolfe had more reasons than most to be excited when bubbly Lee Mead won TV’s Any Dream Will Do – she’ll be on the West End stage with him in Joseph!

Lauren (11), of Elderbek Close, Cheshunt, wowed judges at her own auditions to land a part in the choir of the new production. She then sat glued to the final of the BBC1 talent contest on Saturday.
SONG AND DANCE ACT: Lauren Woolfe, pictured top, will be performing on stage at Tthe Adelphi with TV winner Lee Mead, below
Proud mum Francesca (32) told the Star this week: “She wanted Lee to win throughout the show and now she is looking forward to being on stage with him.

“She is a determined character and has been going to theatre classes for four years.

“Lauren’s in the Isle of Wight on a school trip this week but she is so keen she wouldn’t have gone if it got in the way of her rehearsals.”

Despite her success Lauren, who is in her last year at Fairfields School, is keeping her career options open and has her heart set on becoming a dentist.

“She’s a lot clearer than I was at her age about what she wants to do and has been since the age of five,” said Francesca.
“She’s academic but says if the other career takes off she would go with that.”

It will not be Lauren’s first appearance in the West End. She had a part in an earlier production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biblically based musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring ‘H’ from Steps.

She’s now gearing up for rehearsals and has been allowed to take time off school. Joseph opens next month at the 1,500-seat Adelphi theatre in The Strand. Lauren has been given coaching and support by her dance and drama group, Theatre Unlimited, which has been running since 2001 and meets at Cheshunt’s Wolsey Hall on Saturday mornings.

Theatre Unlimited’s co-founder Anna Sharkey said: “It’s absolutely fantastic for Lauren. She’s really keen with her dancing and singing and is quite possibly earmarked for fame although there is an awful lot of talent out there.

“She’s showing the right determination.”

12 June 2007


All original material on this page unless specified by another URL is the property of Herts and Essex Newspapers Ltd ©2005

[Tanith Messenger]

www.whatsontv.co.uk

Lee Mead: I owe a lot to Joseph
Monday 11th June

Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead has apparently spoken out about how the musical Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has changed his life - and won him a girlfriend too.

Lee was crowned the nation's favourite Joseph in Saturday night's final and will now star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revamped stage production of Joseph in London's West End.

Lee also met his girlfriend Kerry Stammers, 25, on the touring version of Joseph three years ago.

Lee told The Sun: "I met Kerry on Joseph - she was the handmaiden and I was Pharaoh, who dresses like Elvis. She must have had a thing for me in my Elvis wig! We've been together ever since so Joseph is special to me.

He added: "It was also my first play I saw with my nan. She loved all musicals and kick-started my interest in musical theatre. It's such a shame she passed away before she could see me getting a lead role."

Lee is about to start rehearsals for the show, which starts in six weeks. He is releasing a Children In Need charity single featuring the songs Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door.

He will also take to the stage at Diana's memorial concert on July 1.

[Tanith Messenger]

Joseph star's big break - in Norwich

12 June 2007 14:25

Jeanie Woods serves breakfast in 2004 for Lee, front, and fellow cast members of Joseph, including her son, Gavin, second from left. The cast were performing the show in Norwich.
By LORNA MARSH

Any Dream Will Do - but this one began in Norfolk for new Joseph star Lee Mead.

And last night an EDP reader revealed that a cameo part in the smash hit musical three years ago just would not do for the BBC programme's winner.

While Lee comes to terms with his impending fame, Annela Youngman spoke of how she met him as Pharoah when Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat came to Norwich's Theatre Royal in 2004.

And it was revealed how he got his first break at a Norfolk leisure resort.

Mrs Youngman, one of the musical's most avid fans having seen it hundreds of times, watched Lee take on the small role of Pharoah five nights in a row at the Theatre Royal.

And the lucky 68-year-old got to meet the man who she thought did not do as well as other performers in that role.

She said the performer, who will now play Joseph in the West End musical's next run, was charming and friendly but at the time she did not think he was as good a Pharoah as predecessor Trevor Jary.

But Mrs Youngman said it was not the right part for him and that he has now shown his true potential as the winner of Any Dream Will do.


Annela Youngman with the programme mention Lee Mead's role as Pharoah.
“I voted for him every week, I didn't want the others to win. He has everything: he can do showing off for when Joseph was a young show-off but he can age as well,” she said.

“When I met him he was lovely, really kind and friendly, but I just didn't think he had the edge as Pharoah because that is an Elvis-type role - he didn't quite have the voice for it.”

Mr Mead was also pictured in the EDP back in October 2004 during the musical's run having breakfast at the home of fellow cast member Gavin Woods's mother, Jeanie, who lives in Dereham.

And a year before Mr Mead got his first showbiz break at Potters Leisure Centre, at Hopton, near Yarmouth.

Nicky Hathaway, show company manager at Potters, said that she was blown away by Lee's talent when he auditioned for a position as a cast member in 2003.

Lee, 25, worked at Potters for about nine months as a singer and dancer in variety shows alongside 15 other cast members. He lived in Hopton and was, said Nicky, a pleasure to work with.

“Lee was a lovely person - incredibly talented, easy-going and cheerful. I think he certainly grew as a performer while he was with us and it's great to see him doing so well,” she added.

“He was brilliant while he was with us, but he's improved even more since he's left. I'm really proud of him and I'm certainly not surprised that he's made it this far in Any Dream Will Do.

As soon as I saw him in the first few episodes I thought to myself that he'd go on to win. I've certainly been voting for him every week.”


Lee Mead with Andrew Lloyd Webber after winning the role of Joseph on Saturday.
Mr Mead states on the Any Dream Will Do website: “I feel I should be Joseph as this is something I truly want. I'm passionate about this character and, like many people, I have a part of my youth connected with the show.

“All I can remember is how involved I was with watching the show. I also believe I can bring something fresh and original to the part.”

Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.

Go to

new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED11%20Jun%202007%2021%3A04%3A38%3A130

to see photos that go with the story and see some ex jo cast

[Peggy]

LEE on TV !!!
Don't miss this Saturday's Lottery programme on BBC 1 from 8pm to see viewers choice Lee perform a number from the new show.

[Tanith Messenger]

www.thesun.co.uk

Lee: Joseph has shaped my life

By EMMA COX
Deputy TV Editor
June 11, 2007

TELLY Joseph winner Lee Mead yesterday told how the musical had shaped his entire life — and got him his girlfriend.

On Saturday it led to him getting his dream role — playing the lead in London’s West End version.

Nine million telly viewers watched as Lee beat rivals Keith Jack and Lewis Bradley in the live final of Any Dream Will Do on BBC1.

In his first interview since, he told The Sun he owed a lot to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, including girlfriend Kerry Stammers, 25 — whom he met three years ago in a touring version of the show.

It was also the first play he ever saw — with his beloved nan Liz, who died three months ago.

Lee said: “It’s strange, Joseph has sort of been following me around my whole life.

“I met Kerry on Joseph — she was a handmaiden and I was Pharaoh, who dresses like Elvis. She must have had a thing for me in my Elvis wig — I’m not sure why!

“We’ve been together ever since so obviously Joseph is very special to me.

“It was also the first play I saw, when I was about nine with my nan. She loved all the musicals and really kick-started my interest in musical theatre.

“It’s such a shame she passed away before she could see me getting a leading role at last.

“But I know she’s looking down on me and she’s as proud as punch.”

And thanks to winning the coveted stage role, he can now afford to buy his own flat — and has asked Kerry to live with him.

He said: “I’ve been saving for years and I can finally afford my own flat in Essex.” Lee went on: “Kerry and I are very private couple — definitely not the new Posh and Becks. But she’s very supportive of my career and she’s an amazing girl.

“We’re very happy together and I can’t wait for her to move in. We’ll be just round the corner from my mum and dad’s house where I grew up.”

Lee added that he was looking forward to “settling down” after touring as a theatre performer.

He said: “I’ve been travelling all over the country in different productions for years so I can’t wait to have a home to go back to every night.

“Now that I’m Joseph I know I have a bit more stability — both financially and in my career.”

Lee will now start rehearsals for the London show, which starts in six weeks.

He is also releasing a Children In Need charity single of Joseph songs Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door.

And he will sing at Princess Diana’s Memorial Concert on July 1, along with Kylie and Elton John. His new life is a far cry from when he was a struggling actor, living in a working-class home with his parents — postman Steve and cleaner Jo — in Southend, Essex.

He said: “I hadn’t appeared in anything till I landed the part of Danny in Grease when I was 15.

“Suddenly girls started to take notice of me and, I’ll be honest, that was the main reason I got into acting!

“It was pretty cool to be getting girls’ numbers.

“Then I really got the bug and all I’ve ever wanted is to be a leading man, but it’s always eluded me up until now.”

He said he was gobsmacked to be named as Joseph in front of judging panel Andrew Lloyd Webber, Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman, Zoe Tyler and Bill Kenwright, and host Graham Norton.

And shamed telly star Michael Barrymore turned heads when he turned up for the final — with life coach Carole Caplin. The former confidante to Cherie Blair is said to be helping the entertainer get back on track after his split with boyfriend Shaun Davis.

Lee admitted: “I’m only just getting my head around the fact that nine million people have been watching me on Any Dream Will Do.

“To think that I’ll be singing in front of a live audience of 75,000 at Wembley Stadium for a concert that will be seen by millions across the world — that’s just mind-blowing.”

He added: “I’m so grateful to The Sun readers and everyone else who voted for me, and I intend to give them a hell of a performance by way of thanks. I won’t let anyone down.”

[Lynda]

Lee's official website coming soon:



www.lee-mead.com/