Rayodowntownentertainmentcelebrity

Hear'Say's Noel Sullivan reveals transformation for new West End role

He rose to fame on Popstars in 2001

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 29th Aug 2019

Remember Hear'Say? They were all anyone could talk about in 2001 - after the members won their place in the band through reality show Popstars, Noel Sullivan, Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh and Suzanne Shaw were seriously popular.

Although Hear'Say didn't exactly last long, the band went on to do big things on their own - especially Kym, who became a fan-favourite on Coronation Street as Michelle Connor.

Noel has also had an incredibly successful career, focusing more on theatre and the West End and starring in plenty of shows like Grease, Fame and We Will Rock You - and now he's turning his attention to School of Rock.

And in an appearance on This Morning today, Noel revealed that he'd put on two stone for the role, telling Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes why it was important for him to do that, "In the script there’s a lot of talk about the teacher being fat. You can’t do it with a fat suit, it would look really weird. It’s live and you are right there. It’s a very physical show."

When asked whether he'd be losing the weight after finishing his run in the show, Noel said, "We will worry about it then. In the meantime it’s pizza and pasta for me!"

Of stepping into Jack Black's shoes - who made the role famous in the 2003 film - Noel said, "It’s a tough one. People know the film, it’s an amazing part to play. The kids are the draw really. They are playing live every single show. They are 9 years old!

"We have three teams of 12 kids. Some of them have never been on stage before, they are amazing musicians, you watch them grow and become amazing performers."

Swipe through to see the most amazing celebrity transformations of all time...


Hear'Say's Noel Sullivan reveals transformation for new West End role
2 of 33

Little Mix, then

Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson and Jade Thirlwall looked very young in 2011 after winning The X Factor. To be fair, they were all teenagers at the time!

Of course, talk soon turned to Hear'Say, and how it impacted his life, "It was before the time of social media, we were just on everything. Every TV show, every radio show, you couldn’t pick up a paper without us being in there so because it was such an intense focused time, I think people think it was longer ago than it was."

He also revealed what he did after the band broke up, "I went back to Cardiff, I have amazing family and friends, and then I found my way into theatre, which was my first love. I think theatre stars work a lot harder.

"I’ve learnt a hell of a lot more about performing during my 15 years in the West End and on tours and the cast you get to work with are phenomenal talented and are doing it eight shows a week, not just three minutes."

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.