Well, he's not camp and why should he be? He's a thespian who takes his job seriously and there's nothing wrong with that. Not all of them have to act like performing seals when a camera switches on. I'd rather he was serious than chew the scenery like some of the others...

Was the personal attack on a poster really necessary? the comments you make do not relate at all or in any way to what was said??

We are all allowed our personal opinions, I think Lee is just a "Steady Eddie" who will not let Andrew down but I don't see him setting the West End Musical Theatre on Fire! and for someone to say that such as Ben, Daniel, Lewis and Keith will not do as well - let's just wait and see!

Where's the personal attack??? She said he was not "personality plus" as an interviewee and I asked why should he be? What does it matter what he's like off-screen? He's there to do a job and star in a show...

Surely you as a "BEN ELLIS FAN !!!!!!!" would resent people attacking the competitors' off stage personalities? How often have people had a go at Ben? Or is that not acceptable for Ben but acceptable for Lee?

I was fortunate enough to see Darius as Sky at the Liverpool empire last week - and boy was he good.

Totally LM - should be back on the West End soon!

I think Lee has much more chance of "setting musical theatre on fire" than ben daniel or keith ever have! so if by "steady eddie" you mean exceptionally talented with loads of carisma - then yes!

It's OK to disagree - I have certainly not taken offence!

Perhaps you have over-reacted just a little. I thought Lee was lovely - very soft spoken and polite. It's just that MB and JB have very outgoing and gregarious personalities.

I am certain that both MB and JB take their jobs seriously too and I have never thought they were like "performing seals". Just very entertaining interviewees.

As for Lee's potential - we'll wait and see ...

If and when I hear someone hit a money note the way that Mr Ball can, then I will know for certain that there is a serious contender for the West End's leading musical theatre star!

Well you know Marie, I like Michael Ball too and I don't expect to ever hear Lee hit the notes that he does! (much as I like his singing voice, I don't think he was the best. Possibly after Keith, Daniel and Seamus)

But it's also obvious he is a quiet guy that's never going to be as flashy as JB and MB are... his interviews with Graham after singing were almost borderline painful to watch.

Would love to have seen it, but difficult for me to get to the UK at that time. I hope they put him back on TV again for me soon.

I have to say that I agree that he does look uncomfortable in interviews and finds it hard to articulate himself properly but his job from now on is not as a renta-celeb being asked for quick soundbites. He is going to be where he is most comfortable and that is in character on stage, and from my point of view he certainly knows how to turn it on when he needs to. He was a better actor than anyone else in that competition and it was obvious from the start.
There are many other fantastic stars of musical theatre that have not chosen tv fame like MB and JB and I'm sure Lee will be one of them.

That is one of the reasons I did not see Lee as a Leading Man, you do need to be an all round showman to be a leading man, look at the many who have filled the shoes of Joseph both on UK Tours and London, several including Jonathan the last and current UK National Tour Joseph, names mean nothing to me.

Funny with Jonathan, Bill Kenwright only auditioned him very late! and it was his first role from school, you are not telling me that he did not replace someone???

Lee IS an all round showman - excellent mover, excellent actor, excellent singer, loads of carisma, lights up a stage, yep, i'd say thats pretty all round showman like!

Agreed! Absolutely classic case of the importance of stage presence. I saw him in the touring version only a few weeks ago and it brought this point home. His technical skills were perfectly good enough but unexceptional, however his stage presence, charisma and overall performance were utterly wonderful.

If you were a really good accountant doing your job within your 'comfort zone' and one day you suddenly had to talk to Alan Sugar on national TV would you immediately be able to 'banter' with him and 'shine'?. Give the kid a chance, judge him on his ability to 'be flashy' in interviews when he's had some practise. JB and MB walked straight into interviews without training? Don't think so. Lee comes from a very quiet, unassuming family so obviously he's going to find that part difficult. Shining on stage will be an entirely different matter - I've seen him on stage and he becomes a completely different guy. Go see him.

Well said Lubby, absolutely spot on.

Hrm, well, not sure you can really call Lee a rival. At his age, he's going to be up for mostly younger roles anyway.

Not that JB's going to be back on the West End anytime soon, at least not for a run of any length, not with all his other commitments. I think that's why he does panto every year, because it's short term and he loves performing for a live audience.

I agree with you Cleo, there are many great performers out that there that hate to be interviewed and would rather not talk about themselves at all. Rowan Atkinson is a completely insular person when out of character.
He was the only one that made me sit up on my sofa, he out performed everybody on that show week after week.

I know; it's a real shame. Makes me glad I actually managed to see him in The Fix many years back. Wish I'd seen him in Miss Saigon though; I bet he was an excellent Chris.

I don't think you read all my posts in entirety or you'd see that that that was what I stated. I don't expect or need Lee to overwhelm me on the interviewers' couch. He shines on stage. He somewhat reminds me of a young Mandy Patinkin - quiet man on the outside but all around sublime performer.

I would imagine that he and Michael Ball would be hoping to create the role of the second Phantom in the sequel.

Then again, John B did say on the Jonathan Ross show that he wold love ALW to write a musical episode of Torchwood..

Extremely well said! Anyone who watched Lee perform in Saturday night's final can plainly see that he set the theatre on fire during "Devil in Disguise" and "New York, New York." Not only that, but he blew the roof off it, as well (did you hear the audience?!)! Yes, the private Lee may be understated, but I agree that you don't have to be overly enthusiastic and camp to be a West End star!

I was lucky enough to see Michael Ball in "Aspects of Love" when it first opened in New York...and he was sensational...but I can honestly say that I would much prefer Lee Mead as my leading man.

Yeah, but it depends on timing, doesn't it... if it's two years from now and John's still committed to Torchwood, there's no way he can commit to the time they'd need of him. He's said in interviews that he's passed on a number of offers of West End shows and Broadway transfers because of his other commitments -- I can recall Wicked and Spamalot among those he's mentioned.


Which would be awesome, but would seem to fit better with Doctor Who, really. Not that they couldn't find a way for his character to be in it.

Michael Crawford comes easily to mind. He is one of the biggest stars of musical theatre, both here and in the U.S., but he is also an extremely shy and private person. No one can question his talent or commitment to the stage.

After Lee, Michael Crawford is my favorite performer of all time, so I guess I like the quiet/private ones who save their explosive energy and passion for the stage!

There is a guy called Paul Keating who starred in Tommy and is now in LIttle Shop of Horrors - he is amazing but not that well known outside of musical theatre.

I think Lee will make a great leading man. I also think Daniel will do well - I've seen him in Rent and he was amazing.

Lewis and Ben have the potential to do well as they had something about them, but perhaps need a little more training - both are young so have time!

I saw Michael Ball in Chitty - not my favourite show - but you have to hand it to Michael that he is a great performer.

oooh betty

Ah, when I was in school I saw Michael Ball when he was just out of drama school, his first job, in the Aberystwyth Summer Season production of Godspell. First time you heard him, he sang 'Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord' before he came on stage, just this voice filling the whole theatre. I still get goosebumps all over me just remembering it. He was quite pudgy then with loads of long curly hair and he was nothing like the experienced pro he is now, but Wow you knew he was special.

Nothing to do with Lee, sorry, just a favourite memory!