Jon Lee is enjoying life as a pop star again and is gearing up to tour with the band S Club 7.
The group, which enjoyed massive success from the late 90s until 2003 have recently reformed and have announced an arena tour, which starts next month.
S Club 7 were created by ex Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
They also had many hits, including four number ones including Bring It All Back, Never Had A Dream Come True and Don’t Stop Movin and had their own TV series which opened the doors for shows like High School Musical and Glee.
The 32 year old said it’s like old times being back in the group.
“We’re enjoying rehearsals and we are working with an incredible choreographer who has worked with the likes of Cheryl Cole, Olly Murs and the X Factor tours,” said Jon.
“We’re learning all new routines. The first day was a shock to the system, as I’ve not danced like that for years, but I soon got back into it.”
He promises fans a ‘fantastic show’.
“It’s going to be a huge celebration of our greatest hits and we’ve also had a few tracks re-mastered to give them a modern edge and to make sure they sound big in the venues,” said Jon.
He said the reunion was a logistical nightmare.
“It was two years in the making,” he said.
“I was contracted to a musical and Rachel was having a baby when it first got talked about.
“When we finally got back together and performed for the first time, on Children In Need, our performance got one million hits on You Tube in one day, it’s crazy.
“We didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as we announced the tour, we looked on social media to see people were going to fly to see us from Mexico and Australia.The response was incredible.”
Now the band are back together, it’s like old times.
“There are plenty of jokes flying about and the old nicknames have come back,” he said.
Before finding fame, Jon was brought up and raised in Devon.
“It’s perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted to have grown up anywhere else,” he said.
“I love it in South Devon. I only live where I do because of work.”
He attended Decoy Primary School in Newton Abbot and moved to Ipplepen Primary School.
The performer went onto Coombeshead School in Newton Abbot before receiving a scholarship at Sylvia Young Theatre School.
He went on to play the lead in Oliver! aged 13 at London Palladium before being catapulted into the limelight in S Club 7.
The Brit Award winning band announced they were to split live on stage in 2003 and following them disbanding Jon went on to carve a successful career in the West End landing leading roles in Les Miserables and Jersey Boys.
He played Marius in Les Miserables and took on the part of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre, London for three years until last year.
He’s now committed to the S Club tour until the summer.
“I’ve never made plans in life, someone is looking over me,” he said.
“As soon as the S Club tour finishes I’ll go back to auditioning, as I do love musical theatre and pretending to be a character for a couple of hours a day.
“The West End is booming at the moment and money is being pumped into the shows to make them an experience rather than just a show. It’s an exciting time for theatre.”