LEE Mead is well connected.

He is connected to to his home town of Southend on Sea where his dream of living on the sea front has come true; he is well connected to reality and not changing even though he is a star and connected to his audience via his songs and acting.

He is by his own admission a ‘lucky man’, but also lucky enough to take the opportunity life has given him which all started after winning the BBC series ‘Any Dream Will Do’ to take the role of Joseph in the West End in 2007.

This big break came when he was 26-year-old when he won he BBC series ‘Any Dream Will Do’.

But as he said he had already been in the business for a few years so knew what was required.

In order to win the title he had to beat 100,000 singers who entered the competition.

Now a decade on from this win, Lee is celebrating - it’s 10 years since the BBC One Holby City star won the coveted starring role of Joseph in the 2007 stage revival.

To celebrate Lee is embarking on a yearlong tour – Lee Mead – 10 Years – The Anniversary Tour.

You can catch him when he comes to the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 29.

And what’s more this year, Lee had another treat for his fans when he released of a brand new album simply titled Lee Mead – 10 Year Anniversary.

The album features 11 of Lee’s favourite tracks that he has performed over the years, amongst which will be show songs Dancing Through Life (Wicked), Hushabye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Close Every Door (Joseph), As Long As You’re Mine – a duet with Rachel Tucker from Wicked, Bring Him Home (Les Miserables) along with interpretations of some contemporary numbers including Everything, With Or Without You, Leave Right Now, Let Her Down Easy, All Of Me, and Blackbird.

In the past 10 years, Lee has managed to successfully combine music with stage and screen with on screen roles in Holby City and Casualty, stage roles in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde, Wicked, West End Men and of course his iconic starring role in Joseph, along with live music tours and album releases.

Music has always played a large part in his life.

As a child, when he was six/seven-years-old, he remembers watching his mother do her cleaning and listening to George Michael on a loop as she was a big George Michael fan.

It wasn’t until he was 18/19 years-old he became a professional singer.

Recalling his first ever show, Lee said: “I was so nervous.

"It was a home town gig in Southend on Sea (The Palace Theatre)and he theatre holds 1,600 people and it was pretty much sold out.

“I did not think I could go on and do two hours and cover 18 songs.

"I have to do songs which connect to me and therefore they can connect to the audience.

“When you sing a song you want to connect to the audience and be able to understand what you are singing about.

"I really cannot just go out there shout at an audience and sing notes.

“I have to think about what songs I want to sing and what they mean something to me.

"There is a lot of work behind choosing what songs to sing.

"Whatever song I sing be I happy, sad, it should be something I can relate to.

“I was going through a rough period in my life and one of the songs I sung on stage was Fix You by Coldplay.

“As at that time in my life it had something to say and it would have something to say to the audience.

"Another song which is personal to me is All of Me written by John Legend.

“When I sing it I think of the people I love and how much they mean to me and so when I am singing it.”

As a singer, actor and musical performer, Lee hopes he can still be doing what he loves when he is 60/70 years-old.

Lee is looking forward to coming back to the Octagon.

He said he wasn’t originally going to do anything to mark the 10th anniversary but was persuaded to my his family who felt it should be marked.

Tickets for Lee Meads –10 Year Anniversary tour at the Octagon cost £24- £51.

Buy online at octagon-theatre.co.uk or call box office on 01935 422884.