Pop Idol icon Gareth Gates to play at bingo in Newcastle 24 years after ITV stardom

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Some 25 years after he shot to fame on Pop Idol and came very close to winning the whole thing, Gareth Gates is going to be playing the very different surroundings of a bingo hall in Newcastle. And it's sure to be a hot ticket. Yorkshire teenager Gareth won the hearts of the nation back in 2002, with millions of viewers falling in love with from his first audition, as Idol judges like Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman instantly saw something in him too. Having gone from strength to strength after making it through to the live shows, with other singers like the North East's own Zoe Birkett and Aaron Bayley, Gareth ended up in the final two alongside Will Young and, while Gareth was the clear favourite, with the whole country appearing divided over who they wanted to win, it was Will who became Pop Idol's first ever winner. Not winning the show didn't do Gareth any harm though as, weeks after Will hit number 1 with his winner's single Evergreen, Gareth followed him to the top of the charts with his cover of Unchained Melody. Just a few months later, Gareth had another number 1 under his belt with Anyone Of Us and then again in spring 2023 with his Comic Relief cover of Spirit in the Sky. Other top 10 hits from Gareth included Sunshine and Say It Isn't So and 10 years after his last one, in 2014, he was a member of put together boyband Fifth Story on ITV's The Big Reunion, alongside Dane Bowers, Adam Rickitt, Kavana and Kenzie from Blazin' Squad. Now Gareth is touring the UK with another boyband in Boyband in the Buff, which is coming to Newcastle in June. And just a few weeks later he'll be at the Buzz Bingo in Byker on June 27. Teasing the event, Buzz Bingo posted: 'Eyes down… then get ready for a night with Gareth Gates. Join us for an unforgettable evening starting with bingo from 7pm with 6 chances to win £500, followed by a live performance and meet and greet with the one and only... GARETH GATES!'