BBC Any Dream Will Do
Antony - Ben - Chris B - Chris C - Craig - Daniel - Johndeep - Keith - Lee - Lewis - Robert - Seamus
Any Dream Will Do Joseph finalist Lee Mead, who is 25 years old, is originally from Southend-on-Sea although he now lives in Brockley, London. Lee is a professional singer and actor.
Congratulations Lee Mead - you are Joseph!
Lee has been performing professional for the past five year which has included stints in various cabaret shows and on cruise ships aswell as performing in the stage musicals The Phantom Of The Opera, Miss Saigon and Tommy.
Lee says: "I feel I should be Joseph as this is something I truly want. I am passionate about this character and believe I can give the public and the show the Joseph they know and love but with a new, fresh, individual stamp," adding that "as amazing as being an understudy is, you can't really beat having your own lead role - I'm always the guy waiting for somebody to go sick, and waiting to go on stage. I 100% believe that I can be Joseph, and what I am hoping is people aren't going to judge me just because I'm a professional. I've worked hard to get to where I am, and I want to be given the same opportunity as anybody else, because I want this as much as anybody else, if not more, and that is why I am here. Opportunities like this don't come along very often, and that is why I am here, and that is why I want the part of Joseph - it is my dream." Denise Van Outen said that "It is so hard to get lead roles in the West End, if this is the only way he can do it, then good luck to him.
Lee auditioned in London. The day following the final Abymill Theatre, after the Judges - Andrew, John, Bill and Denise - had selected the final 12 Joseph hopefuls that they wanted to go through, Lee, along with Rob, where called in to see the Judges together. First Andrew told Rob that he was through, then, after a pause, he told Lee that he was through too to the final 12! Will the public select Lee to be Joseph in the new West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Adelphi Theatre in London?
9 June 2007: The Grand Final of Any Dream Will Do! Three Joseph finalists remain - Lee Mead, Keith Jack and Lewis Bradley - but only one will win the coveted lead role of 'Joseph' in the London West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Adelphi Theatre from 7 July 2007 - who will it be?? This week the television show opened with all the 'Joseph' finalists reuniting in an ensemble version of 'Go Go Go Joseph' from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat. This was followed by the three remaining finalists performing two sets of solo songs - Lee sung 'Devil in the Sky' and a big band version of the number 'New York, New York'. Lee also sung a joint rendition of the song 'Maria' from the musical West Side Story with the other two finalists. Graham Norton then announced the first results of tonight's public telephone voting - Graham revealed that Lee had secured enough public votes to go through to the second of tonight's two programmes along with Keith Jack - meaning that Lewis Bradley had been knocked out. The second programme tonight opened with Lee and Keith each singing their favourite solo song from the series - Lee sung 'Paint It Black'. Afterwards Lee and Keith joined together with a joint rendition of the title song from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar before Graham Norton revealed the final results from the public telephone voting. Graham announced that the public had voted for Lee to play the part of 'Joseph' - Congratulations Lee - you are Joseph! The programme then finished with Lee singing 'Any Dream Will Do' from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
2 June 2007: Tonight was the semi-finals of Any Dream Will Do. This week Lee Mead sung the Bon Jovi song 'Livin' On A Prayer'. Afterwards Bill Kenwright told him "You could be an international superstar, I think you're fantastic" and Andrew Lloyd Webber exclaimed: "You were brilliant." Lee also sung a duet with fellow Joseph finalist Lewis Bradley of the medley 'Oh What A Circus/High Flying Adored' from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita. When all the public phone votes had been added up, Graham Norton announced that Lee had secured enough votes to go straight through to next week's Grand Final.
26 May 2007: For the seventh BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' show all the songs featured qualities that every Joseph needs and Lee Mead was given the quality dreaming for which he sung The Monkees song 'Daydream Believer'. Afterwards John Barrowman told him "That was brilliant, perfect, I think the West End is in need of Lee Mead" and Zoe Tyler said "That was a very happy looking, relaxed Lee. I feel very safe with you vocally." This week Lee also sung with the programme's special guest, Josh Groban, the song 'You Raise Me Up'. Afterwards, when Graham Norton announced the results of the public telephone voting, it was revealed that, once again, Lee had secured enough votes to go straight through to next week's programme.
19 May 2007: This week was the sixth of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows. Lee Mead sung the Rolling Stones song 'Paint It Black'. Afterwards John Barrowman said "Lee, it pains me to say this, but I would gladly give my leading man's shoes to you to wear in the West End." Bill Kenwright said "Lee, that was in a totally different league to anything we've seen tonight." Lee also sung the Barbra Streisand song 'Don't Rain On My Parade' along with Craig and Daniel. When Graham Norton revealed the results of the public telephone voting, it was announced that Lee had secured enough votes to go straight through to next week's programme.
12 May 2007: The fifth of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows and Lee Mead sung the Will Young track 'Leave Right Now'. Afterwards Bill Kenwright said: "You are everything I look for in a performer," Zoe Tyler said "Tonight, that was phenomenal" and Andrew Lloyd Webber described it as being "awesome." Lee managed to secure enough public votes to get through to next week's programme.
5 May 2007: For the fourth of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows Lee Mead sung the Free song 'All Right Now'. Afterwards Denise Van Outen said: "You shouted through that song," Zoe Tyler commented: "I just thought that was a bit rubbish" and Andrew Lloyd Webber said "It shows you are not that experienced - you didn't sing as well tonight." In the days leading up to this live show Lee had been suffering from a virus and had been under doctors orders to rest. When the Judging Panel was asked by Graham Norton, based on tonight's performance, which remaining finalist was not their choice for Joseph, Zoe Tyler says Lee. Bur when all the public votes where added up, it was revealed that Lee had secured enough votes to go straight through to the Any Dream Will Do television programme next week.
28 April 2007: The third of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows. This week two Joseph hopefuls were voted off the television show. This week Lee Mead sung the Rod Stewart track 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'. Bill Kenwright said: "There is nothing more thrilling than to see a song beautifully performed ... you kept that wonderful truth you have." Lee managed to secure enough public votes to get through both of the evening's knock-outs without having to go through the dreaded sing-offs. Interestingly, just before the first vote was announced Graham Norton asked the judges who they though, based on tonight performance, SHOULD be Joseph - Bill Kenwright said Lee should be Joseph!
21 April 2007: For the second of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows Lee Mead sung the Daniel Powter song 'Bad Day'. Afterwards Graham Norton asked the Judging Panel what they thought of Lee Mead's performance - Denis said: "Lee, it is a very hard song to sing, but what I really like about you is you take the challenge and you go with it - and you proved tonight that you can act. The boys watch and learn, that is how it should be done when it comes to acting. I thought you where great." Bill added "I totally agree with Denise, you showed tonight what acting is all about - it's being still, it is being inward, it is being focused, it is not being over the top, it's making them come to you. Not the easiest song in the world to sing, a very difficult song - forget worries tonight, you're in, I'm telling you." John said "When you are on stage, you are a leading man. You make us feel comfortable, you're controlled, you're focused, and you deliver the song and you act it well. Superb job, well done." Zoe said "You give yourself problems, you make problems up in your mind, in our classes, you don't need to do that, you've got to believe in yourself, we all believe in you. You were fantstic, you were hot tonight, it was an emotional performance, fantastic, great." Andrew concluded by saying "I think you did fanstically with the song we worked with a lot on Wednesday, it is a very difficult song to sing and we changed it around a wee bit aswell, so I think it really worked very much better tonight - I think you did really very well with an extremely difficult song, you really did." When all the public votes where added up, it was revealed that Lee had secured enough votes to go straight through to the Any Dream Will Do television programme next week.
14 April 2007: The first of the BBC Any Dream Will Do 'knock-out' shows, Lee Mead was the seond Joseph hopeful to sing, he sung 'Mack the Knife'. Afterwards John Barrowman said: "That was not an understudy performance - that was a leading man performance! You took to the stage, you made it your own, and you worked the audience, well done." Denise Van Outen told Lee "I think you are an absolute star, fantastic! Great 'light-and-shade' in your performance from the beginning, right through to the end. And let me tell you something, I watched Robbie Williams sing that song at the Albert Hall, and you gave Mr Williams a run for his money!" Next Bill Kenwright, who has employed Lee in the past, but never as a leading man said: "When I first saw Lee audition I didn't know he was going to be their, and he walked on and I said: 'That's Lee!" I have to say that I've employed him twice and I've never seen that extra something that makes star... until now. Lee - you are a star! You deserve to come way up from the understudy role, you're a star!" Lastly Zoe Tyler said: "Lee, I've been in classes with these guys 24/7 just about, and sometimes just because you're the most experienced vocally doesn't necessarily mean you're the best, which I've seen a few times in our classes this week. But you know what, that was a very very sophisticated performance, vocally excellent." Finally, once all the public votes where counted, it was announced that Lee had recieved enough votes to go straight through to next week's programme.