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

He rose to fame on Popstars in 2001

Noel Sullivan

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

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!"

Noel Sullivan
©Noel Sullivan © ITV

While we're at it - POP IDOL season 1: Where are they now? 😱

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Pop Idol series 1: Where are they now?

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Will Young

Will obviously beat Gareth Gates in the final and went on to release a string of massive singles including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now. He released a greatest hits album in 2009 and just missed out on a spot on The Voice UK panel to The Script's Danny O'Donoghue. In 2016 he joined Strictly Come Dancing; only to leave the show three weeks later due to 'personal reasons.' Will still makes music and will be releasing his book To Be A Gay Man in September 2020.

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Gareth Gates

Gareth released three studio albums after finishing in second place, including the absolute tune that was Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake). In 2014 he competed in Dancing on Ice: All Stars and joined supergroup 5th Story on The Big Reunion. He was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes from 2012 to 2019 before being linked to DJ Chloe McLennan in July 2020.

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Zoe Birkett

Zoe came fourth on the show and released a top twenty single (Treat Me Like a Lady, which reached number 12) before being dropped by Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller's label. In 2014 she entered Big Brother (not even the celebrity version) and came ninth.

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Korben Niblett

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

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Darius Cambell

Darius Campbell (who back then went by Darius Danesh) had previously auditioned for Popstars with his cover of Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time; and returned to Pop Idol the next year. He went on to release five top ten singles and won ITV show Popstar to Operastar in 2010. Darius married actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but filed for divorce just two years later.

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Hayley Evetts

After finishing fifth, Hayley bagged a small role on Coronation Street and starred as Sandy in Grease alongside Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012 (though didn't make it past boot camp) and in 2016 was one of the candidates set to represent Romania at Eurovision before pulling out due to a severe knee injury.

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Rosie Ribbons

Rosie signed a five-album deal after coming sixth; releasing top twenty singles Blink and A Little Bit. After her record label went bust she was released from her contract, but Rosie did enter Australian Idol in 2007. Didn't make it through to the final 12, though.

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Laura Doherty

Laura now has a music degree after graduating from the University of Ulster in 2006. She also teaches hip-hop dancing in schools.

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Aaron Bayley

Aaron now plays weddings and functions as part of the Aaron Bayley Band (inspired.) He also joined fellow popstar-types Andy Scott-Lee, Stacey McClean, Rikki Loney and Kavana in supergroup G*Mania, who went on tour performing Glee songs.

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Rik Waller

Rik was replaced by Darius when he was forced to leave the live shows due to severe laryngitis. He released a top 10 single - a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club in 2002. Back in March 2014, he was an exam invigilator.

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Korben Niblett

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

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Jessica Garlick

She might've only finished ninth, but Jessica went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with Come Back. She even managed to come third, which is pretty bloody amazing.

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."

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Celebrity transformations slider with cover pic

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Calvin Harris, then

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Cheryl, then

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl was just a fresh-faced teenager when she auditioned for Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.

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A young Rihanna in 2005...

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Rihanna, now

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Matthew Lewis, then

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis starred in the film series as Neville Longbottom from 2001 to the last film in 2011, here pictured in 2004 at the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban premiere.

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Matthew Lewis, now

Matthew grew up into such a good-looking chap that the makeup department on the Potter films had to try and make him less attractive in the later films, even spawning the phrase 'Longbottomed'.

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Miley Cyrus, then

Miley Cyrus in her Hannah Montana days...

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Gareth Gates, then

Pop Idol contestant Gareth Gates on the show back in 2001...

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Gareth Gates, now

Here in 2017, he showing off his muscular physique alongside his girlfriend Faye Brookes.

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Katy Perry, then

Katy Perry rocking long black hair in 2004...

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Katy Perry, now

And showing off her shorter, blonde pixie cut in 2017.

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Chris Pratt, then

Jurassic Park actor Chris Pratt back in 2008...

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Chris Pratt, now

Shed the pounds and now has a slimmer physique.

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Kylie Jenner, then

A fresh faced Kylie Jenner in 2008...

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Kylie Jenner, now

Now rocking a platinum blonde 'do at the age of 21 in November 2018.

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Zac Efron, then

Zac Efron in his High School Musical days back in 2007...

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Zac Efron

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Justin Timberlake, then

JT rocking his epic tight curls with frosted tips back in 2000...

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He's so much more grown-up in September 2018 whilst performing in Las Vegas.

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Johnny Vegas, then

TV personality Johnny Vegas, real name Michael Pennington, is well known for his larger frame.

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But in 2018, he revealed that he'd lost two stone.

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Jack Ryder, then

Jack Ryder, AKA Jamie Mitchell from EastEnders, was a noughties heartthrob if ever there was one.

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Jack Ryder, now

In 2018, Jack was announced to be joining Holby City - and look at him now!

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Jonathan Tapper, then

Gogglebox's Jonathan Tapper was 21st 3lbs at his heaviest whilst appearing on the show with his family - wife Nikki, daughter Amy and son Josh.

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Jonathan Tapper, now

But with the help of a diet plan, Jonathan was able to lose a whopping three stone in just 12 weeks, and six inches off his waist!

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."

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