26 September 2023 , 19:30
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The year proved to be a life-changing one for the then-17-year-old Gareth Gates, who skyrocketed to household name status after competing on music competition show Pop Idol. Although he narrowly missed out on the prize to winner Will Young, runner-up Gareth, now 39, still enjoyed plenty of success, with his debut album My Heart Wants To Say achieving double platinum success.
Gareth's career took an unexpected turn however after his wild night of passion with Katie Price, then best known by her glamour modelling name Jordan, came to light. Katie, who was pregnant with son Harvey Price at the time, took Gareth's virginity at the height of his fame, with the fling made public after CCTV footage captured the popstar sneaking out of her hotel room.
Garet initially denied his fling with Katie (Getty Images)
Katie later expressed regret over their brief relationship (Getty Images)At first, Gareth, who is currently competing in Channel 4's Celebrity SAS, denied anything had happened, but finally admitted it was true a year later, explaining to Heat magazine in 2003 that he hadn't wanted his family to know about his sex life. Adding that he'd been "flattered" by the attention from Katie, Gareth told the publication: "I was 17 years old and had just moved from Bradford to London when, to be honest, I was pursued by her. I was bemused as to why she went to the press with it as I see relationships as private.
"That was the very reason I didn't talk about it. I was embarrassed by what was said and didn't want my family to find out about it in this way. They obviously know now as I have been open with them." At the time, Katie, who claimed to have had a three-month fling with Gareth following her split from Harvey's father Dwight Yorke, wasn't happy at all about his denial, and later expressed regret about the romp.
During a 2009 episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Katie reflected: "When I look at it now, it's gross, disgusting. It's terrible - I was still young, I was pregnant, I didn't have the dad about and I still wanted to be loved. It was wrong when I look back." Mum-of-five Katie has also taken credit for launching Gareth's career, taking aim at the Say It Isn't So singer in her 2021 book Harvey and Me.
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Looking back at some of the photoshoots she took part in at that time, the 45-year-old wrote: "I should have thought, 'Katie, put it away. You're pregnant - no one wants you'. [...] But then again, hello Gareth Gates! He wanted a bit of Pricey - even when I was six months pregnant. He denied losing his virginity to me at first but once he finally admitted it, wasn't that when his career started? Anyway, swiftly moving on..."
It doesn't appear, however, that Gareth shares this view, and he's even revealed that his brief relationship with Katie actually led to him taking a step back from the limelight. Gareth previously told New magazine: "It wasn't too long after that I decided to take a break from the industry. It wasn't the reason I wanted to be a pop star. There are stars out there who are out there for the wrong reasons. I wanted to be recognised for my talent."
In the years since, Gareth has carved out a successful career for himself in musical theatre, picking up starring roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Footloose, Les Miserables, Boogie Nights, and Legally Blonde. He's also found happiness in his romantic life with fellow West End star Allana Taylor, whom he reportedly met during a 2022 panto production of Jack and the Beanstalk panto. Last month, Allana shared a sweet couple's snap taken at London's Oxo Tower Restaurant, captioned, 'Better together'.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins will air on Channel 4 this Tuesday at 9.30 pm