Born the year Footloose the high-kicking Kevin Bacon film came out, Gareth Gates will star in the musical as it heads to Kent. He cut loose to talk musicals, horse racing and gold hotpants.

We all know you can sing, but Footloose is about dancing – how are your moves?

My character is supposed to be a bad dancer anyway. So it suits me down to the ground! He starts out a terrible dancer and then eventually he is taught how to do it properly.

You recently tweeted about a rather risqué costume you have to wear in the show...

The majority of the show I just wear the typical cowboy gear. But then for one of the songs I wear a pair of gold hotpants. That fills me with fear.

Were you a fan of the film, Footloose?

I was a great fan of the film. It was actually released the year I was born and I watched it quite a bit as a child. There’s lots of things in our show that weren’t in the original Broadway version of Footloose but it’s the songs that everybody will know. It’s a fantastic show for all age ranges and my co-star Maureen Nolan is amazing.

It was in 2001 that you took part in Pop Idol – does it seem a long time ago to you now?

You’re making me feel old now! In some ways it has flown by. I have achieved so much within those 14 years. I had a lot of success in the early days in the charts. I got to see lots of places in Europe, places I would never have seen. I really enjoyed that side of things. My break into musicals came after I auditioned for Andrew Lloyd Webber for Joseph in 2009 and he really liked my audition. I have played some great roles in some great shows such as Les Miserables and Legally Blonde. Les Miserables was my favourite, it was a real honour to be part of it.

After musicals what’s next for you? Would you like to be in a soap?

I’ve been working very hard on my speech (Gareth has a long documented struggle with a stutter, although not when he’s singing). It is because of that I am able to perform in shows like Footloose. If I keep on my work with my speech, some day maybe I’ll be able to do something like that.

How do you get on with touring when you have a young daughter?

I try obviously to see my daughter as much as I can, but being away from home is the worst bit. I live in Chiswick in London so when a show is near that I try to stay at home.

You recently bought a race horse. Have you always been into racing?

I really enjoy horse racing. I’ve got quite a few fingers in a few pies these days – I own a few houses, and I bought the horse as an investment and a hobby. Bunbury’s first race will be the first night I play in Dartford, on Monday, February 8. I don’t know if I will get to see it race. If it fits with the show, I hope I can. I’m really looking forward to see the horse race – but I’m looking forward to performing in Dartford more!

DETAILS

Footloose will be at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre from Monday, February 8 to Saturday, February 13. Tickets cost from £20. To book go to orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.