Gareth Gates, who rose to fame at 17 on the talent show Pop Idol, has shed his former image with a performance at Manchester Pride that featured revealing outfits and a more risqué stage persona. The 42-year-old singer performed shirtless and later removed his jeans to reveal black boxers, as well as a pair of pink chaps.
The performance marks a significant departure from the spiky-haired, boyish image Gates maintained throughout his early career. He appeared to embrace his new look, engaging animatedly with the crowd and showcasing his dance moves.
This public display comes shortly after his ex-girlfriend Katie Price reflected on their past relationship. Price, 48, discussed their TV reunion for her documentary 'Katie Price: Nothing to Hide,' noting that Gates, then 17, lost his virginity to her when she was 21 and six months pregnant. Gates had previously denied the relationship, believing Price had sold their story to the press.
During promotional interviews for the documentary, Price shared that Gates was relieved to learn she had not been the one to leak their story. She told Hits Radio's Breakfast Show that Gates had a misconception about her involvement for 25 years, and his reaction to discovering the truth was one of relief. Price added that she still finds Gates attractive, remarking, "he still looks fit."
In a previous conversation on the 'Great Company' podcast, Gates addressed the topic of his virginity loss, responding with "no comment." He stated that he was inexperienced while the other person was very experienced, and he could understand why she might have thought he was not telling the truth. Gates also spoke about his initial shock and wariness of the industry and trusting people after intimate details of his personal life became public. He noted that the intense media focus on the story overshadowed his music, a situation he found difficult as he wished to be recognized as an artist. "I was a boy at the time, I wasn't even an adult," he recalled.
Price had previously confirmed the encounter in 2024 on the podcast 'Anything Goes with James English,' stating she took his virginity when she was six months pregnant.
